Fundweb
Gary Jackson Editorial, Fundweb.co.uk

Gary Jackson is a senior staff writer on Fundweb and a contributing writer to Fund Strategy.

Stories by this author.

Basel III could increase riskier activities, Fitch claims

17 May 2012

The implementation of stricter capital rules under Basel III could prompt some banks to increase riskier activities, according to Fitch Ratings.
Siddle to take over Fidelity Funds European Growth

17 May 2012

Matt Siddle has been named as the new lead manager of the Fidelity Funds European Growth fund, while current manager Alexander Scurlock has been reassigned to a new area.
Support for QE3 'growing within the Fed'

17 May 2012

Support for more monetary easing to aid the US’ recovery appears to be growing within the Federal Reserve, the central bank’s latest statement suggests.
Gold price pushes earnings up at Mobius pick Antofagasta

17 May 2012

Antofagasta - a top holding in Mark Mobius’ Templeton Latin America fund - has reported a surge in first-quarter earnings on the back of high gold prices and production levels.
Cambridge unveils first university SEIS fund

17 May 2012

The University of Cambridge plans to become the first university to launch its own seed enterprise investment scheme (SEIS) fund to support new companies.
European investors eye third LTRO, Fitch finds

16 May 2012

Almost two-fifths of European investors expect another long-term refinancing operation (LTRO) will be carried out, according to research by Fitch Ratings.
Fund sale trends unchanged during April, says FundsNetwork

16 May 2012

Fund and IMA sector buying trends during April were relatively unchanged from the previous month, according to figures from FundsNetwork.
Bank lowers UK growth forecast on eurozone problems

16 May 2012

The Bank of England (BoE) has cut its growth forecast for the UK economy, after citing the problems in the eurozone as the country’s greatest risk.
Fund pick SSE lifts dividend on profit rise

16 May 2012

Energy supplier SSE has increased its dividend and mounted a defence against the energy industry’s critics after posting a 2% rise in profits.
Allianz unveils risk-profiled range

16 May 2012

Allianz Global Investors has launched a range of risk-profiled funds with retail distribution review (RDR) ready share classes.
Vanguard to make long-awaited move into UK ETF market

16 May 2012

Vanguard is to make its long-awaited move into the UK exchange-traded fund (ETF) arena with the launch of five physically-backed products.
Liontrust's Luthman: Why pharma can heal itself

15 May 2012

Pharmaceuticals have a strong chance of realigning weakened investor perception and strengthening their investment case, Liontrust’s Jan Luthman argues.
Henderson's Pattullo warns on high-yield quality

15 May 2012

The quality of new high-yield bond issuance is low, according to Henderson Global Investors manager John Pattullo, but investors are still buying them in their search for yield.
Asia's not all about consumers, says Schroders' Dobbs

15 May 2012

The buzz around the rise of the Asian consumer should not blind investors to more traditional opportunities such as manufacturing, according to Schroders’ Matthew Dobbs.
Goldman Sachs: Time to rethink emerging markets

15 May 2012

Goldman Sachs has identified four countries that will drive global growth over the coming decade alongside the so-called Bric nations of Brazil, Russia, India and China.
Drew to leave JP Morgan Chase after derivatives loss

14 May 2012

JP Morgan Chase’s chief investment officer plans to retire after the trading mistake that cost the US bank $2 billion (£1.2 billion).
Investment trusts flocking towards US, says AIC

14 May 2012

The US has been the greatest beneficiary of investment trusts’ asset allocation moves over the past year, according to the Association of Investment Companies (AIC).
Martin Currie Japan given sell rating by Bestinvest

14 May 2012

Bestinvest has given John Millar’s Martin Currie Japan fund a ’sell’ rating after claiming the portfolio’s performance is unlikely to turn around in the foreseeable future.
UBS fills holes left by Stewart and Leidman exits

14 May 2012

UBS has shuffled its fixed income team after two senior portfolio managers left the firm to join Schroders.
Jupiter hires credit analyst to support Bezalel

14 May 2012

Jupiter Asset Management has hired a senior credit analyst to strengthen its fixed interest desk.
Investec unveils RDR share classes

14 May 2012

Investec Asset Management has unveiled new share classes for its UK-domiciled Oeic fund range ahead of the retail distribution review (RDR).
Fitch warns on pressures facing Chinese banks

14 May 2012

Chinese banks are showing “early signs of strain” caused by the country’s rapid credit expansion, credit ratings agency Fitch warns.
Ucits inflows surge during March, Efama says

14 May 2012

Ucits funds experienced a surge in net inflows during March, according to the latest data from the European Fund & Asset Management Association (Efama), as investors piled into bond and money market funds.
Inflation fears prompt Bank to stick

Fund Strategy - 14 May 2012

The Bank of England held off on any changes to monetary policy at its last meeting, after suggestions that the economy could avoid recession in the first half of the year.
Shah’s Special Sits hit by ‘sell’ rating

Fund Strategy - 14 May 2012

Bestinvest has given Sanjeev Shah’s Fidelity Special Situations fund a “sell” rating because of the impact that positions in cyclical stocks have had on its performance.
Deutsche Bank refocuses asset management sale

11 May 2012

German banking giant Deutsche Bank has halted plans to sell its global asset management operations to Guggenheim Partners.
Esma chief lauds FSA's help in single market

11 May 2012

The head of the European Securities and Markets Authority (Esma) has praised the support given by the UK financial regulator.
Commission expects recession in EU

11 May 2012

The European Union (EU) is in the midst of a mild recession, according to the European Commission, but the UK has a brighter outlook than some of its neighbours.
Construction figures 'make downward GDP revision likely'

11 May 2012

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revised down its construction output estimate, making it likely that first-quarter GDP figures will be lower than feared.
British Assets outperforms under Doel

11 May 2012

The £349m British Assets trust has outperformed during the first six months of Phil Doel’s management.
Widening US trade deficit 'makes growth revision likely'

10 May 2012

The US trade deficit widened to $51.8 billion (£32 billion) during March, according to the latest official figures, heightening fears that rising imports could drag on growth.
BDO warns on further regulatory burdens

10 May 2012

The pile of global regulation being heaped on asset managers is causing the industry to lose sight of two important regulatory issues, according to BDO’s Michelle Carroll.
Bank makes no move on QE

10 May 2012

The Bank of England (BoE) has held off on increasing quantitative easing (QE), despite official estimates suggesting the UK returned to recession in the opening quarter of the year.
Rathbones' unit trusts see assets rise by 8.3%

10 May 2012

The amount of money ran by Rathbone Unit Trust Management increased by 8.3% over the opening quarter of the year.
M&G's Fishwick warns on Western government debt

9 May 2012

The government debt of most Western countries is “deeply unattractive”, according to the head of multi-asset at M&G.
Queen's Speech: Reform may encourage shadow banking, expert warns

9 May 2012

Plans to overhaul the UK’s banking sector run the risk of encouraging unregulated shadow banking activity, according to an expert at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
FoF and ethical fund sales fall as trackers win inflows

9 May 2012

Net tracker fund sales reached record highs in the opening quarter of the year, although funds of funds (FoFs) and ethical funds witnessed a fall in popularity.
Fitch affirms Argentina's rating despite "policy uncertainty"

9 May 2012

Fitch Ratings has affirmed Argentina’s issuer default ratings (IDRs) but warns Cristina Kirchner’s presidency runs the risk of creating further uncertainty.
Bestinvest cuts Schroder Income Maximiser rating

8 May 2012

Kevin Murphy and Nick Kirrage’s Schroder Income Maximiser fund has been downgraded by Bestinvest because of the strategy’s inherent volatility.
Sell Shah's Fidelity Special Sits, says Bestinvest

8 May 2012

Bestinvest has the slashed the ratings on two funds managed by Fidelity’s Sanjeev Shah after investors experienced “mixed fortunes”.
Greek eurozone exit "firmly on the cards", experts warn

8 May 2012

The chances of Greece exiting the eurozone have increased after the country failed to elect a new government at the weekend, commentators agree.
Cameron: Crisis was "greater than anyone thought"

8 May 2012

The damage done to the UK economy by the financial crisis was worse than expected, according to David Cameron and Nick Clegg.
Recession fears lack solid foundation, experts warn

Fund Strategy - 7 May 2012

Economists have raised concerns about the accuracy of official construction output data, suggesting the British economy might not have plunged back into recession at the start of the year.
Too few jobs cast doubt on recovery

Fund Strategy - 7 May 2012

Employment numbers coming out of America last week added to doubts on the strength of the recovery in the world’s largest economy.
Trade body unveils plan to change fee structure

Fund Strategy - 7 May 2012

?The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) plans to replace total expense ratios (TERs) with an ’ongoing charges’ figure to improve investment trusts’ comparability with open-ended funds.
Norwegian oil fund piles out of peripheral debt

4 May 2012

Norway’s £376 billion sovereign wealth fund has slashed its allocation to peripheral eurozone debt after participating in the Greek restructuring against its wishes.
Trusts' complexity does not sway investors, Morningstar finds

4 May 2012

Investors are not put off investment trusts by considerations such as discounts and gearing despite advisers’ claims to the contrary, research by Morningstar suggests.
BNP Paribas posts 22% profit fall in Q1

4 May 2012

French bank BNP Paribas saw profits fall by more than one-fifth in the first quarter after a number of “exceptional items” detracted from income.
Scottish Mortgage trust underperforms over past year

4 May 2012

The Scottish Mortgage investment trust underperformed the benchmark over the past year, although its board regard the fund’s longer-term performance as “very satisfactory”.
UK weakness is "unprecedented", claims Niesr

4 May 2012

The weakness still being seen in the UK is “unprecedented” as high unemployment is likely to do lasting damage to the economy, according to a leading think-tank.
CBI cuts 2012 growth forecast on weak GDP numbers

3 May 2012

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has cut its 2012 growth forecast on the back of recent preliminary numbers suggesting the UK economy has returned to recession.
Mervyn King: BoE should have done more before crisis

3 May 2012

Mervyn King has admitted that the Bank of England (BoE) should have tried harder to make its warnings heard ahead of the financial crisis.
Schroders' AUM rises on £1.6bn inflow

3 May 2012

The amount of money managed by Schroders rose in the first quarter of the year after the asset manager witnessed net inflows over the three-month period.
S&P takes Greece out of default

2 May 2012

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has taken Greek government debt out of its default rating after the country’s recent debt restructuring.
Schroders bolsters fixed-income team with four hires

2 May 2012

Schroders has strengthened its fixed-income team with the appointment of four senior professionals focused on the emerging market debt (EMD) relative return sector.
US jobs growth deteriorates in March

2 May 2012

Private-sector employers in the US added close to 120,000 jobs during March, according to the latest figures, showing a fall on the previous month and disappointing analysts.
AIC drops TERs for new charges methodology

2 May 2012

The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) plans to stop publishing total expense ratios (TERs) on its website and recommends its members use a different methodology for their own accounts.
Aberdeen fixed income head joins JP Morgan

2 May 2012

JP Morgan Asset Management has appointed Charles McKenzie as head of client portfolio management for Europe, Middle East & Africa in the global fixed income team.
Henderson AUM hits £66.7bn on market movements

2 May 2012

Henderson saw assets under management (AUM) rise by £2.4 billion in the first quarter of 2012 as investment performance offset net outflows.
Barings poaches HSBC manager for Asian Debt fund

1 May 2012

Baring Asset Management has hired Sean Chang from HSBC as the manager of the Baring Asian Debt fund.
Slowing manufacturing dampens UK economy hopes

1 May 2012

Growth in the UK’s manufacturing sector slowed in the opening month of the second quarter, a keenly-watched purchasing managers’ index (PMI) shows.
Smith & Williamson plans government bond fund for Lynas

1 May 2012

Smith & Williamson is to launch a government bond government bond fund for fixed-income head Chris Lynas.
AHL holds back Man Group's assets growth

1 May 2012

Asset manager Man Group saw a slight increase in funds under management (FUM) over the first quarter but was held back by its flagship AHL fund.
US recovery not assured, Schroders' Wade warns

30 Apr 2012

It is too early to determine whether the US is on the brink of a self-sustaining recovery despite improving economic data, the chief economist at Schroders claims.
Most investors lack risk awareness, Skandia finds

30 Apr 2012

Most investors do not fully understand the level of risk they are taking with a given product, research commissioned by Skandia suggests.
Majority of advisers prepared for RDR, Allianz finds

30 Apr 2012

Just 2% of advisers admit to struggling to meet the deadline for moving to a fee-based charging structure under the retail distribution review (RDR), a poll by Allianz Global Investors shows.
Kames hires high yield manager for fixed income team

30 Apr 2012

Kames Capital has bolstered its fixed income team with the addition of an investment manager covering high yield bonds.
Dexion unveils catastrophe insurance trust

30 Apr 2012

Dexion Capital plans to list an insurance-linked securities investment company on the London Stock Exchange.
Spain returns to recession after shrinking by 0.3%

30 Apr 2012

The Spanish economy has returned to recession after contracting during the opening quarter of the year, the latest official figures show.
Funds predict a shift in focus as big drug makers approach patent cliff

Fund Strategy - 30 Apr 2012

AstraZeneca’s disappointing first-quarter results and its agreement last week to buy a California-based biotechnology company has brought the “patent cliff” facing pharmaceuticals back into focus.
Study highlights challenges to Asian Ucits distribution

27 Apr 2012

Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan remain the most attractive destinations for Ucits distribution in Asia, a survey shows.
US 2.2% growth disappoints

27 Apr 2012

The US economy grew by 2.2% in the first quarter of 2012, according to a preliminary estimate by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis.
IMA calls for Fatca delay

27 Apr 2012

The Investment Management Association (IMA) has called on the US to delay the implementation of Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (Fatca).
Laxey resolution defeated at Alliance Trust AGM

27 Apr 2012

Almost fourth-fifths of Alliance Trust shareholders voted against a resolution to review the company’s management.
Major commodity groups fall in April, S&P data shows

27 Apr 2012

Every major sector in the S&P GSCI fell during April, according to the latest figures, with soybeans and crude oil being notable exceptions to declines in commodities.
JP Morgan Claverhouse to move AIC sector

27 Apr 2012

The £229.8m JP Morgan Claverhouse investment trust is set to move sectors on May 1 in reflection of its yield.
Money funds should face shadow banking rules, says Bank's Tucker

27 Apr 2012

Attempts to oversee the shadow banking sector should involve extra regulation of money market funds, the Bank of England’s Paul Tucker says.
Old Mutual's Lilley adds to defensives on weak economic numbers

27 Apr 2012

Kevin Lilley has added to his defensive holdings of the £56.5m Old Mutual European Equity fund in light of recent weakness in economic data.
HSBC job cuts 'prompted by RDR's impact'

26 Apr 2012

Banking group HSBC has confirmed that more than 2,000 UK employees will be axed as part of its upcoming restructure, with about a quarter departing because of the retail distribution review (RDR).
Eurozone 'heading to recession' as economic sentiment falls

26 Apr 2012

Another fall in the eurozone’s economic sentiment has heaped further damage on hopes that the region is on the brink of recovery.
AstraZeneca chief exec quits as profits fall 19%

26 Apr 2012

AstraZeneca’s chief executive and chairman have announced plans to retire earlier than expected, as first quarter results failed to impress investors and the pharmaceutical giant’s share price dropped.
Too many negatives priced into commodities stocks, say Investec managers

25 Apr 2012

The market could be pricing in too many negative outcomes for commodities companies, according to Investec’s Bradley George and George Cheveley.
CBI manufacturing data suggests underlying economic growth

25 Apr 2012

Signs of recovery have been seen in the UK’s manufacturing sector, tempering the news that the economy has returned to recession.
UK in recession: Experts doubt ONS figures

25 Apr 2012

Preliminary figures from the ONS show the economy contracted over the first quarter of the year. However, a number of experts have expressed scepticism and expect later revisions to be more positive.
Jupiter launches strategic reserve fund

24 Apr 2012

Jupiter Asset Management has launched the Jupiter Strategic Reserve fund to be managed by multi-asset pairing Miles Geldard and Lee Manzi.
BNY Mellon fills Feeney vacancy with PeterPaul Pardi

24 Apr 2012

BNY Mellon has appointed PeterPaul Pardi as the global head of distribution for its investment management business.
Fund managers too focused on macro, says Aberdeen's Young

24 Apr 2012

The asset management industry spends too much time concentrating on the macroeconomic picture rather than actual investments, according to Hugh Young at Aberdeen.
Pictet hires Credit Suisse's Paolini as chief strategist

24 Apr 2012

Pictet Asset Management has hired Luca Paolini from Credit Suisse to serve as its new chief strategist.
Independent fund managers more cost efficient, CoreData Research says

24 Apr 2012

Independent asset managers are “significantly more efficient” than peers owned by larger groups, a study by CoreData Research suggests.
Standard Life property trust buys Cheltenham office

23 Apr 2012

The Standard Life Investment Property Income trust has agreed to buy a multi-let office in Cheltenham for £8.45m.
China leadership change will boost growth potential, DWS predicts

23 Apr 2012

This year’s transition to a new party leadership in China will herald bolder reforms and encourage further growth in the world’s second largest economy, according to one DWS Invest manager.
Manager favourite Vodafone beats FTSE fall on C&WW deal

23 Apr 2012

Vodafone – a staple holding of UK-focused funds – has agreed to acquire telecoms group Cable & Wireless Worldwide (C&WW) for just over £1 billion.
Institutional share classes could answer RDR costs, says Deloitte

23 Apr 2012

Offering institutional share classes to retail investors could allow asset managers to comply with the retail distribution review (RDR) with less cost and effort, according to business advisory firm Deloitte.
Eurozone output falls as Germany and France weaken

23 Apr 2012

Private-sector output in the eurozone has fallen to a five-month low with German manufacturers seeing the first drop in production of the year, the latest purchasing managers’ indices (PMI) suggest.
Roadshows planned as Cofunds invests in RDR

Fund Strategy - 23 Apr 2012

Cofunds is to continue investment during 2012 in preparation for the implementation of the retail distribution review (RDR).
Wall Street profits beat forecasts

Fund Strategy - 23 Apr 2012

American banks posted a broadly positive first quarter last week, with most of the bigger institutions managing to beat commentators’ profit forecasts.
AllianceBernstein American Growth under review after manager change

20 Apr 2012

Morningstar OBSR has placed the rating of the AllianceBernstein American Growth fund under review following the portfolio’s recent change of manager.
China ETFs see strong falls in March

20 Apr 2012

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) mirroring the Chinese stockmarket delivered the worst returns across March, performance figures suggest.
SVG closes European Focus fund to new investment

20 Apr 2012

SVG Investment Funds has closed Andrew Goodwin’s SVG European Focus fund to new money to concentrate on its UK product range.
UK economic hope buoyed by strong retail sales

20 Apr 2012

Stronger-than-expected retail sales have added weight to evidence that the UK economic recovery is gaining momentum.
FSA's Turner slams "massively negative" shadow banking system

20 Apr 2012

The Financial Services Authority’s chairman has mounted an attack on the shadow banking system, laying the bulk of the blame for the financial crisis at its door.
Microsoft beats expectations with profit increase

20 Apr 2012

Software giant Microsoft saw profits beat expectations in the opening three months of 2012 after a surprise rise in the sale of its Windows operating systems.
Economists call for dismantling of eurozone

19 Apr 2012

The eurozone should be broken up to safeguard the future growth of the bloc’s 17 members, economists from Lombard Street Research argue.
Commodity shorts and long European property pay off in March

19 Apr 2012

Products shorting commodities and going long on European property were the strongest performing exchange-traded funds (ETFs) of March, according to FE Analytics data.
Pharmaceuticals' profits on edge of patent cliff, warns Moody's

19 Apr 2012

Moody’s Investors Service has warned on the future profitability of the pharmaceutical industry, given the upcoming expiration of major patents.
Natural gas ETCs lead March's biggest fallers

19 Apr 2012

Products tracking the price of natural gas made the greatest losses in the exchange-traded commodities (ETC) universe during March, research by Fundweb shows.
Artemis fund builds fracking exposure

19 Apr 2012

The Artemis Global Select fund has added to holdings in companies expected to benefit from the rise of “fracking” in America as it builds on the newest theme in its portfolio.
Omam manager Lilley adds to pharma exposure

19 Apr 2012

?Kevin Lilley has been adding to the £58.4m Old Mutual European Equity fund’s pharmaceuticals allocation as the sector’s defensive growth characteristics re-emerge.
Jupiter AUM hits £24.2bn after market rally

19 Apr 2012

The amount of money run by Jupiter Fund Management increased by £1.4 billion over the first quarter, driven by the new year rebound in markets.
Parkwalk invests in water treatment spin-out

18 Apr 2012

Parkwalk Advisors added to two of its portfolios with an investment in a University of Manchester spin-out company.
Commodity ETPs reach record assets under management, says ETF Securities

18 Apr 2012

Higher commodity prices and increased demand for passive products have driven assets in commodity exchange-traded products (ETPs) to record highs, according to the latest figures.
Investor appetite shifts to growth, says FundsNetwork

18 Apr 2012

Fund investor appetite has begun to move from income investments towards growth-focused strategies in recent weeks, the latest sales figures from FundsNetwork suggest.
Lyon holding Tesco plans to 'raise game' in UK

18 Apr 2012

Supermarket giant Tesco plans to invest £1 billion in its UK operations this year after announcing a rise in group pre-tax profits.
IMF lifts global growth forecast

17 Apr 2012

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised up its global growth forecast after saying prospects are “slowly improving again”.
FMG launches Mongolia fund

17 Apr 2012

Emerging markets investment specialist FMG has unveiled a fund targeting Mongolia, which the asset manager claims is the fastest-growing market in the world.
Fund pick Repsol falls on Argentinian nationalisation plans

17 Apr 2012

Spanish oil firm Repsol has seen its shares fall after Argentina announced plans to renationalise YPF, the country’s biggest oil company.
Buxton pick Burberry falls after weak wholesale growth

17 Apr 2012

Luxury fashion brand Burberry was the morning’s biggest faller on the FSTE after the company posted a disappointing trading update.
Aberdeen's pan European funds tweak equity portfolios

16 Apr 2012

Aberdeen’s pan European equities team has made a number of changes to its funds, including adding to publisher Euromoney Institutional Investor and trimming Prudential and Persimmon.
Short Australian dollar and soybean ETCs best performers in March

16 Apr 2012

Funds shorting the Australian dollar against the euro and tracking soybean prices were the best performing exchange-traded commodities (ETCs) last month, according to analysis by Fundweb.
Bolton: Poor performance keeping me at Fidelity China Special Sits

16 Apr 2012

Anthony Bolton’s decision to remain at the helm of the Fidelity China Special Situations trust was influenced by the fund’s run of poor performance, the manager has told the Daily Telegraph.
BlackRock bond platform 'could harm global banks', Moody's warns

16 Apr 2012

BlackRock’s plans to create a bond trading system for buy-side investors such as money managers and insurance companies would be “credit negative” for some financial institutions, according to one ratings agency.
Recession wiped $19.2 trillion from US economy

16 Apr 2012

The US saw close to $20 trillion (£12.6 trillion) sucked from its economy during the recent recession, according to figures from the Treasury Department.
Aberdeen Emerging Markets heads Share Centre's ISA sales

16 Apr 2012

The £3.2 billion Aberdeen Emerging Markets fund was the most frequently bought product during the 2011/2012 tax year by ISA customers of The Share Centre.
UK economy 'will stall until 2013', says think tank

16 Apr 2012

The UK economy has avoided a double-dip recession but is likely to stall for the rest of 2012, according to the latest forecast from the Ernst & Young ITEM Club.
Artemis fund stocks up for ‘gas glut’

Fund Strategy - 16 Apr 2012

The Artemis Global Select fund has added to holdings in companies expected to benefit from the rise of “fracking” in America as it builds on the newest theme in its portfolio.
Government debt fears mean safe assets will be scarce, warns IMF

Fund Strategy - 16 Apr 2012

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned on the price and availability of safe assets last week, reflecting concerns of where investors can find havens in turbulent markets.
Oil markets easing as stocks rise, says IEA

Fund Strategy - 16 Apr 2012

The tightness in global oil markets over the past two years is easing, says the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Pharma finds favour again with Omam’s Lilley

Fund Strategy - 16 Apr 2012

?Kevin Lilley has been adding to the £58.4m Old Mutual European Equity fund’s pharmaceuticals allocation as the sector’s defensive growth characteristics re-emerge.
Chinese GDP: Reactions to “disappointing” growth

13 Apr 2012

Investors have expressed faith in China despite today’s lower than expected GDP numbers, although some commentators fear the world’s second largest economy is still heading towards a hard landing.
JP Morgan profits fall in Q1 despite revenue rise

13 Apr 2012

JP Morgan has reported an increase in revenues for the first three months of the year, although the bank saw a slight fall in profits over the quarter.
BlackRock favours equities overweight

12 Apr 2012

Improving US economic data and easing concerns about the eurozone sovereign debt crisis are creating a supportive backdrop for equities, according to strategists from BlackRock.
Legg Mason's Edmonds plans to up high-yield allocation

12 Apr 2012

Ian Edmonds is looking to re-build the £563m Legg Mason Global Multi Strategy Bond fund’s position in high-yield sectors after recently trimming his exposure to the secondary market.
M&G's Leaviss: Should the government cancel £300bn in gilts?

12 Apr 2012

The government should consider cancelling more than £300 billion in gilts that the Bank of England has accumulated through its quantitative easing (QE) programme, M&G’s Jim Leaviss argues.
Fund launches in Europe drop to five-year low, Lipper finds

12 Apr 2012

The number of launches in the European mutual funds industry dropped to its lowest level in five years during 2011, research by Lipper shows, while the total number of products for sale fell.
Rippingall to retire from First State

11 Apr 2012

Angus Tulloch, Wee-Li Hee and Scott McNab will take the helm of the Scottish Oriental Smaller Companies investment trust when its current manager Susie Rippingall retires next year.
Jupiter eyes multi-asset fund for Geldard

11 Apr 2012

Jupiter Asset Management plans to launch a new multi-asset fund for convertibles specialist Miles Geldard.
US recovery heading for setbacks, says Invesco's Greenwood

11 Apr 2012

Investors should prepare themselves for the possibility that the nascent recovery playing out in the US is heading towards further obstacles, Invesco Perpetual’s chief economist warns.
Two-fifths of advisers outsource investment process, Defaqto finds

11 Apr 2012

More than two-fifths of platform users currently outsource some element of the investment process, according to figures from Defaqto.
Equity funds suffer as macro concerns return, says EPFR Global

11 Apr 2012

Concerns over the health of Europe’s economy and recent comments by the US Federal Reserve led to investors channelling their cash towards less risky funds last week.
IMF pushes for 'debt forgiveness' to aid recovery

10 Apr 2012

Larger run-ups in gross household debt have strong link with the ferocity of the resultant economic slump, research by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) finds.
Standard Life bolsters credit team with two hires

10 Apr 2012

Standard Life Investments has made two hires for Craig MacDonald’s investment grade credit team.
Woolnough's M&G Optimal Income attracts most cash in March

10 Apr 2012

Richard Woolnough’s M&G Optimal Income fund attracted the most money out of FE Analytics’ universe of Oeics and unit trusts last month.
GLG Japan fund's top holding doubles loss forecast

10 Apr 2012

Sony – the top holding of the £1.3 billion GLG Japan CoreAlpha fund – has more than doubled its loss forecast for the year to March 31, 2012.
High-yield ETFs pose volatility and pricing de-link risks, warns Fitch

10 Apr 2012

The rapidly-expanding use of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to track high-yield bonds could add to market volatility and de-link bond pricing from credit fundamentals, according to one ratings agency.
Investec hires Nomura's Harling for emerging markets debt fund

10 Apr 2012

Investec Asset Management has bolstered its emerging market debt team with the hire of Victoria Harling from Nomura.
Complacency warning as market rallies fade

Fund Strategy - 9 Apr 2012

As the traditional new-year optimism starts to fade in the markets, fund managers have been warned about becoming too complacent on the health of the global economy.
Fund managers pile out of Vodafone after Indian budget

5 Apr 2012

UK fund managers sold down their holdings in Vodafone during March, following the Indian government’s move to reap tax revenue from foreign investors.
Bank holds steady on rates and QE

5 Apr 2012

The Bank of England has made no changes to its monetary policy this month, as widely anticipated.
Barclays pips Apple as fund managers' favourite

5 Apr 2012

Financial services group Barclays was the stock most bought by retail fund managers last month, analysis by Fundweb shows, despite tech giant Apple announcing a return to dividend payments.
Now is not the time for complacency, RLAM's Talbut warns

5 Apr 2012

Positive US economic numbers and the European Central Bank’s (ECB’s) liquidity-boosting efforts have led commentators to unwarranted complacency, Royal London Asset Management’s Robert Talbut argues.
ECB holds rates for fifth month

4 Apr 2012

The European Central Bank (ECB) has left its key interest rates for the fifth month running, as its governing council continues to call on the eurozone’s governments to tackle their fiscal deficits.
UK service numbers add to economic growth optimism

4 Apr 2012

Activity in the UK service sector grew at a strong pace during March, a closely-watched survey shows, adding to evidence that the economy escaped a return to recession in the first quarter of the year.
Fed minutes dash hope of QE3

4 Apr 2012

The Federal Reserve seems unlikely to embark on a third bout of quantitative easing (QE) in the coming months, the minutes from last month’s monetary policy meeting suggest.
Gold funds show biggest losses in March

4 Apr 2012

Resources funds were the worst-performing portfolios of March, according to data compiled by Fundweb, with products targeting gold being hit especially hard.
Fixed income benefiting from liquidity drug for now, says JP Morgan's Gartside

3 Apr 2012

The liquidity being pumped into the financial system by central banks is creating a sweet spot for fixed-income investors at the moment but could create risks in the long term, says JP Morgan’s Nick Gartside.
Politics could derail US recovery, warns BlackRock's Doll

3 Apr 2012

The political situation in the US is a “wildcard” that has the potential to disrupt the positive outlook for the world’s largest economy, according to BlackRock’s Bob Doll.
F&C lowers performance fee on Private Equity trust

3 Apr 2012

A lower performance fee has been proposed for the F&C Private Equity trust, along with the announcement of a new dividend policy.
BlackRock sells 8.3m Compass shares after broker downgrade

3 Apr 2012

Shares in Compass Group, the world’s largest contract caterer, have fallen after the company was downgraded by analysts at Morgan Stanley.
Laxey is 'a thorn in the side' of Alliance Trust, says Numis

3 Apr 2012

Laxey Partners has shown itself to be a “thorn in the side” of the £2.1 billion Alliance Trust through making numerous demands on the board, according to one broker.
RIT eyes £73m profit on Agora deal

3 Apr 2012

RIT Capital Partners expects to make a total profit of more than £70m on its investment in private Norwegian company Agora Oil and Gas – despite the stock being just over two years old.
Martin Currie bear turns to neutral

3 Apr 2012

Alan Porter has slashed the Martin Currie Global Equity Income fund’s heavy underweight to cyclicals while selling a top holding of the portfolio.
Alliance Trust tells investors to reject Laxey

3 Apr 2012

Aberdeen Asset Management is seeking to replace Katherine Garrett-Cox as the manager of Alliance Trust, according to today’s Telegraph.
UK has avoided recession, BCC predicts

3 Apr 2012

The UK is likely to have avoided recession in the first quarter of the year, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), although significant risks remain for the economy.
Frontier tweaks allocations on multi-asset range

2 Apr 2012

Frontier Investment Management has made a series of changes to the strategic asset allocation of its multi-asset funds.
Schroder Real Estate to repay debt after office sale

2 Apr 2012

The Schroder Real Estate investment trust will repay £10m of its debt after selling a property in West Bromwich.
Poor investments hint at manager's real skill level, says Towers Watson

2 Apr 2012

Fund managers’ poorly-performing investments can offer more insight into their skill than their successful calls, one expert from Towers Watson argues.
Investec eyes FTSE 100 structured investment fund

2 Apr 2012

Investec Structured Products plans to launch the first product from its Objectives Returns structured investment proposition.
UK manufacturing 'strengthened in March'

2 Apr 2012

Activity in the UK’s manufacturing sector accelerated at the end of 2012’s first quarter, according to the latest purchasing managers’ index (PMI), but conditions in the eurozone remain in recession territory.
Moody's warns on Fidelity's reliance on equities

2 Apr 2012

Moody’s Investors Service has highlighted the strengths supporting Fidelity Worldwide Investment’s Baa1 credit rating, but warned about the asset manager’s reliance on equities and its financial leverage.
JO Hambro to launch Global Opps fund for Leyland

2 Apr 2012

JO Hambro Capital Management (JOHCM) is eyeing a new fund for Ben Leyland, a manager on its £870.8m UK Opportunities fund, later this year.
Emerging market debt funds have to evolve, Fitch warns

2 Apr 2012

The style of fund managers in the emerging market debt (EMD) space needs to evolve as the asset class becomes increasingly popular, a report by Fitch Ratings warns.
Bernanke prompts wary response over likelihood of QE3

Fund Strategy - 2 Apr 2012

Ben Bernanke last week sparked fresh speculation that the Federal Reserve is considering a third bout of quantitative easing (QE), although commentators suggest the central bank is likely to direct its efforts down more fruitful avenues.
Martin Currie bear turns to neutral

Fund Strategy - 2 Apr 2012

Alan Porter has slashed the Martin Currie Global Equity Income fund’s heavy underweight to cyclicals while selling a top holding of the portfolio.
Q4 figures spark doubt over pace of recovery

Fund Strategy - 2 Apr 2012

Official figures last week confirmed Britain’s fourth quarter’s economic contraction as larger than previously thought, leading to speculation on the health of the recent recovery.
FSA cautions against 'risk sandwich' promotions

30 Mar 2012

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has clarified what it expects from companies when they are promoting financial products and services.
Eurozone bailout funds lifted to €700bn

30 Mar 2012

Eurozone finance ministers have agreed increase the bloc’s bailout fund to €700 billion (£586.7 billion).
Wolstencroft's Artemis European Growth downgraded by Morningstar OBSR

30 Mar 2012

Morningstar OBSR has downgraded Philip Wolstencroft’s Artemis European Growth fund because of its failure to deliver consistent returns over the past few years.
Euro must fall to parity with dollar, says Dr Doom

30 Mar 2012

The euro has to fall to parity with the dollar to allow growth to return to the eurozone periphery, according to economist Nouriel Roubini.
Baillie Gifford Japan ditches "small holding" in Olympus

29 Mar 2012

The £128.2m Baillie Gifford Japan investment trust dropped fraud-hit camera maker Olympus as part of the changes made to the portfolio by manager Sarah JM Whitley in recent months.
Fitch lowers global forecast despite growing US momentum

29 Mar 2012

Fitch Ratings has revised down its global growth forecast for this year and next despite signs of strengthening economic momentum in the US.
UK heading back to recession, OECD warns

29 Mar 2012

The UK will have returned to recession by the end of the first quarter of 2012, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Pattullo pick ITV upgraded on improved credit profile

28 Mar 2012

British broadcaster ITV has been upgraded by Fitch Ratings in light of the company’s improved credit profile and the progress made in its transformation programme.
Aberdeen Asian Income outperforms on China underweight

28 Mar 2012

The £269.7m Aberdeen Asian Income investment trust significantly outperformed its benchmark last year, aided by underweights to China, India and Taiwan.
Bilfinger Berger Global Infrastructure adds prison to seed portfolio

28 Mar 2012

The recently-launched Bilfinger Berger Global Infrastructure (BBGI) trust has added an Australian prison to its seed portfolio.
HICL increases share issue as infrastructure demand heightens

27 Mar 2012

HICL Infrastructure Company has increased the overall size of its recent share placement after the issue was met with strong demand.
Fixed-income dominates February fund flows, Morningstar finds

27 Mar 2012

European long-term investors piled into fixed-income portfolios, according to the latest data from Morningstar.
OECD head calls for €1 trillion bailout fund

27 Mar 2012

Eurozone bailout funds need to be increased to at least €1 trillion (£836.3 billion), the head of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) argues.
Fidelity's Shaughnessy quits

27 Mar 2012

Gary Shaughnessy has stepped down as Fidelity Worldwide Investment’s retail head to take up another role within the financial services industry.
Euro equities show “compelling” investment case, says SVG’s Goodwin

26 Mar 2012

The case for investing in European equities has never been “so compelling”, according to SVG Investment Managers’ Andrew Goodwin.
Dunedin Income Growth drops Mothercare and Daily Mail owner

26 Mar 2012

The £378.6m Dunedin Income Growth trust has sold its positions in children’s retailer Mothercare and media conglomerate Daily Mail and General Trust in recent months.
Chinese recovery not clear yet, Capital Economics warns

26 Mar 2012

China’s economic recovery has yet to start and the situation is likely to deteriorate further in the months ahead, according to research by Capital Economics.
Kames drops performance fee for absolute return fund

26 Mar 2012

Kames Capital will waive the performance fee of the Kames UK Equity Absolute Return fund from April 2 until the end of the year before halving the charge applied.
Multi-managers lack consistent performance, Defaqto suggests

26 Mar 2012

Very few multi-manager funds have been able to perform consistently over recent years, according to research by Defaqto.
Artemis scraps fund launch for 'busy' Steer

26 Mar 2012

Artemis Investment Management has shelved a fund planned for Tim Steer after the manager won two mandates with Skandia Investment Group.
Artemis scraps plan for ‘busy’ Steer

Fund Strategy - 26 Mar 2012

Artemis Investment Management has shelved a fund planned for Tim Steer after the manager won two mandates with Skandia Investment Group.
Fears over debt diminish despite signs of another slump

Fund Strategy - 26 Mar 2012

European fund managers are growing less worried about sovereign debt and the head of the European Central Bank (ECB) claims the crisis is over. However, one economic indicator heralds a return to recession for the region.
Funds struggle to beat benchmark

Fund Strategy - 26 Mar 2012

Only 13 actively managed equity funds in Europe - including just one British retail offering - have beaten their benchmark in every year of the past decade, according to research by Lipper.
Welcome for boost to life sciences

Fund Strategy - 26 Mar 2012

Last week’s Budget contained moves designed to strengthen Britain’s reputation as a life sciences hub, with one measure – the so-called patent box – achieving some immediate success.
EIRIS unveils sustainability ratings service

23 Mar 2012

Responsible investment research provider EIRIS has launched a tool to allow the sustainability records of more than 3,000 companies to be assessed.
"Unscrupulous" land bank wound up by High Court

23 Mar 2012

A land banking company has been ordered into liquidation on public interest grounds following an investigation by part of the Insolvency Service.
Unit trusts invested £11.9bn in Q4, says ONS

23 Mar 2012

British unit trusts increased their investments over the fourth quarter of 2011 although closed-end vehicles pulled more money out, the latest government figures show.
Chinese property "past the crisis point", says Schroders' Rehlaender

23 Mar 2012

The Chinese property market is no longer at risk of falling into crisis, according to Schroders’ Jim Rehlaender, despite fears that the country’s housing sector is in a bubble.
Standard Life property fund sells Brazilian office

22 Mar 2012

Andrew Jackson’s £554m Standard Life Investments Select Property fund has sold one of its Brazilian holdings for more than £10m.
UK retail dip creates caution on recovery

22 Mar 2012

The volume and value of UK retail sales fell over the course of February, official numbers show, prompting fresh concerns over the health of the country’s recovery.
Woodford favourite invests £500m in UK after Budget

22 Mar 2012

Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has unveiled a series of investments worth more than £500m in the UK after yesterday’s Budget confirmed a ‘patent box’.
One-in-four chance of 2012 contraction, OBR says

21 Mar 2012

There is a one-in-four chance that the UK economy will shrink in 2012, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) says, despite the group’s slight improvement in growth expectations.
Budget 2012: Banking levy will rise to 0.105%

21 Mar 2012

The banking levy will be increased to 0.105% next year, chancellor George Osborne announced in his Budget speech to today.
Budget 2012: Chancellor channels support to key sectors

21 Mar 2012

Today’s Budget announcement contained packages of support for some of the UK’s essential industries.
Budget 2012: Inflation will fall to 1.9%, Osborne says

21 Mar 2012

Chancellor George Osborne expects both inflation and unemployment to fall over the course of this year.
Budget 2012: Growth estimate revised to 0.8%

21 Mar 2012

The government expects the UK economy to grow by 0.8% during 2012 and 2% in 2013, chancellor George Osborne said in today’s Budget speech.
Gam unveils fund for Love and Nogueira

21 Mar 2012

Gam has launched an emerging markets equity fund for recent hires Tim Love and Joaquim Nogueira.
FSA wins High Court case against land banks

21 Mar 2012

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has secured a £32m victory against three land banks but warns that victims of their unlawful activities are unlikely to recoup their losses.
Budget 2012: Osborne to announce £2.69bn in tax rises, Capital Economics predicts

21 Mar 2012

George Osborne’s third Budget as UK chancellor is likely to include tax rises that net the government more than £2.6 billion, according to forecasts by Capital Economics.
Euro contagion still a risk to US banks, Bernanke says

21 Mar 2012

US financial institutions’ exposure to Europe is still creating risk of contagion from the debt crisis, the chairman of the Federal Reserve says.
Budget 2012: CBI leads calls for growth-focused Budget

21 Mar 2012

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is leading calls for the chancellor to announce ways of putting the private sector at the heart of the UK’s growth.
Budget 2012: EEF calls for rebalancing of UK economy

21 Mar 2012

The government should use today’s Budget to step up its growth ambitions, according to manufacturers’ organisation EEF.
Budget 2012: FSB calls for Small Business Administration

21 Mar 2012

The government should announce a separate body with a seat in the cabinet to represent the interests of small companies in today’s Budget, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) argues.
Budget 2012: OBR should have 'name and shame' role, say UK directors

21 Mar 2012

The Institute of Directors (IoD) wants the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to have much greater role in boosting growth.
Budget 2012: Osborne will focus on growth and jobs, says Schroders' Zangana

21 Mar 2012

Chancellor George Osborne is to present his third Budget today against a broadly positive backdrop - which Schroders’ Azad Zangana argues should allow him to focus on boosting growth.
Budget 2012: TUC wants Osborne to reverse austerity

21 Mar 2012

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) hopes chancellor George Osborne will “acknowledge the economic case for reversing his austerity plans” in his Budget speech.
BofA ML eyes contrarian auto and telecoms play

20 Mar 2012

A contrarian trade in the automotive and telecommunications sectors has emerged in Europe over the last month, Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofA ML) research argues.
Managers' concerns shifting to commodities and China, BofA ML finds

20 Mar 2012

Asset managers’ sentiment towards Europe improved last month, a keenly-watched survey suggests, despite Greece confirming massive debt restructuring.
EEA outlines restructuring options for life settlements fund

20 Mar 2012

Shareholders in the EEA Life Settlements fund could be offered three restructuring options once dealing in the fund resumes later this year.
UK inflation drops to 3.4%

20 Mar 2012

Inflation continues to fall in the UK with the consumer prices index (CPI) dropping 20 basis points in February, according to the latest official numbers.
Ignis Argonaut European Income downgraded to one star

19 Mar 2012

Bestinvest has slashed its rating on the £340m Ignis Argonaut European Income fund, saying the asset manager’s house style makes another portfolio more attractive.
Standard Life European Equity Income wins four-star rating

19 Mar 2012

Will James’ £634.5m Standard Life European Equity Income fund has been awarded four stars by investment adviser Bestinvest.
Apple to pay first dividend since 1995

19 Mar 2012

Technology giant Apple – a key holding of Threadneedle’s Cormac Weldon – has unveiled plans to pay a dividend for the first time since 1995 and embark on a share buyback programme.
FSA refuses application from "arrogant" director

19 Mar 2012

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has refused an application from Elmswood.EU after labelling its director “combative” and “arrogant”.
Just 13 funds outperform each year of past decade, Lipper finds

19 Mar 2012

About two-fifths of Europe’s actively-managed equity funds are able to beat their benchmark in any given year, according to research by Lipper.
Economic "dark clouds" are lifting, says IMF's Lagarde

19 Mar 2012

Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has expressed greater confidence in the global economy but cautioned that it remains in the “danger zone”.
Currency poses risk to Brazilian economic growth

12 Mar 2012

Brazil has posted annual growth numbers that most developed markets would be overjoyed with but the country’s appreciating currency remains a significant risk.
Brighter outlook spurs 'risk-on' approach for Artemis portfolio

Fund Strategy - 12 Mar 2012

Jacob de Tusch-Lec has been reducing the £46.7m Artemis Global Income fund’s exposure to “quality yield” and investing in cyclical and value names.
Cazenove fund met with approval

Fund Strategy - 12 Mar 2012

Cazenove Capital’s plan to launch a European income fund for Chris Rice, its head of pan-European equities, has been welcomed by analysts.
Currency poses risk to Brazilian economic growth

Fund Strategy - 12 Mar 2012

Brazil has posted annual growth numbers that most developed markets would be overjoyed with but the country’s appreciating currency remains a significant risk.
US adds 227,000 jobs in February

9 Mar 2012

US non-farm employers created 227,000 jobs in February, a keenly-watched report from the Department of Labor shows.
Northern Trust hires State Street's Nigel Tyler

9 Mar 2012

Northern Trust has added a senior index equity portfolio manager to its London office as the asset manager continues to grow its global index portfolio management team.
LV='s Ashby to replace Brown on Ignis UK Equity Income

9 Mar 2012

Ignis Asset Management has recruited LV= manager Graham Ashby to run its £90.6m equity income fund when the current manager leaves the business.
Greece 'wins 75% approval' for debt swap

8 Mar 2012

Enough Greek creditors have agreed to take part the country’s vital debt swap deal, according to reports.
Risk-on markets are returning, says Skandia's Ventre

8 Mar 2012

Now could be time to go overweight equities and underweight government bonds as risk-on sentiment returns to the market, according to Skandia’s John Ventre.
F&C hires Steve Ilott for multi-stategy role

8 Mar 2012

F&C Investments has hired Steve Ilott as head of multi-strategy investments in its new investment and institutional business (IIB) arm.
Aberdeen grows Asian credit team

8 Mar 2012

Aberdeen Asset Management has bolstered its Asian credit team with the addition of Charles Macgregor and Thu Ha Chow.
Artemis' de Tusch-Lec returns to CRH with new optimism

8 Mar 2012

Jacob de Tusch-Lec has been introducing more risk into the £46.7m Artemis Global Income fund on the back of renewed optimism in the economic climate.
Bank holds base rate for third anniversary

8 Mar 2012

The Bank of England maintained its monetary policy stance at this week’s meeting, after expanding its quantitative easing (QE) programme by £50 billion last month.
Parkwalk adds nanotech firm to EIS portfolios

7 Mar 2012

Parkwalk Advisors has added carbon nanotube company Surrey NanoSystems to the portfolios of two enterprise investment scheme (EIS) funds.
US firms ‘create 216,000 jobs in February’

7 Mar 2012

US employers added 216,000 workers to their payrolls during February, according to the latest survey, adding hopes of sustained recovery in the world’s largest economy.
PSigma shifts focus from equities to corporate bonds

7 Mar 2012

PSigma Investment Management has reduced its exposure to equities and boosted its allocation to corporate bonds.
Henderson Asian Growth curbs gearing until conditions improve

7 Mar 2012

The recently-renamed Henderson Asian Growth trust will scale back its use of gearing after the portfolio’s underperformance in 2011.
Rathbone’s Coombs stands by emerging market optimism

7 Mar 2012

Rathbone’s David Coombs says his early optimism in emerging markets is starting to pay off and that he plans to stay bullish on the region for the foreseeable future.
Brazil likely to loosen policy but growth fears persist

7 Mar 2012

Brazil is expected to ease monetary policy in the coming months after the country grew by less than expected in 2011, fund managers and ratings agencies agree.
Threadneedle shifts allocation on geopolitical tension

6 Mar 2012

Threadneedle has responded to rising geopolitical tensions by shifting its asset allocation away from equities and towards cash, according to chief investment officer Mark Burgess.
Omam hires head of non-US distribution

6 Mar 2012

Old Mutual Asset Management (Omam) has appointed Olivier Lebleu as head of non-US distribution.
AIC highlights 45 years of dividend increases

6 Mar 2012

Three investment trusts have increased their dividend for 45 years running, according to analysis by the Association of Investment Companies (AIC).
Hambro favourite Fresnillo reports 62.8% profit growth

6 Mar 2012

Precious metals mining company Fresnillo – a top holding of Evy Hambro’s BlackRock Gold and General fund – has posted strong profit growth for 2011.
Future Capital launches third green energy EIS

6 Mar 2012

Future Capital Partners has added to its range of green energy enterprise investment scheme (EIS) funds with the launch of Elara III.
Eurostat confirms Q4 eurozone contraction

6 Mar 2012

The eurozone economy contracted in the fourth quarter of 2011 after investment and exports plummeted, the latest official figures confirm.
Cazenove unveils European income fund for Rice

6 Mar 2012

Cazenove Capital plans to launch a European income fund for Chris Rice, head of pan-European equities.
Fund sales up in 2011 despite 'risk-off' drop in Q4

5 Mar 2012

Gross fund sales were able to grow in 2011 despite the ’risk-off’ attitude that persisted in the final months of the year, the Fundscape Distribution Report reveals.
JB Chindonesia adds to Indian position

5 Mar 2012

The JB Chindonesia fund has increased its exposure to Indian cyclicals in light of attractive valuations and falling inflation.
S&P says Invesco fund rating "under pressure"

5 Mar 2012

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has said the A/V4 rating on David Todd’s Invesco Global Investment Grade Corporate Bond fund is “under pressure”.
Eurozone 'could cost €2.4 trillion to keep together', LSR suggests

5 Mar 2012

The cost of holding the eurozone together could amount to as much as €2.4 trillion (£2 trillion) by 2015, according to analysis by Lombard Street Research (LSR).
Services slowdown adds to UK recovery fears

5 Mar 2012

Fears that the UK’s economic recovery is already starting to slow have been exacerbated by data showing activity eased in the service sector last month.
Concern over economic impact of €530bn injection

Fund Strategy - 5 Mar 2012

The European Central Bank (ECB) pumped close to €530 billion (£333 billion) in additional liquidity into the financial system last week, although some see the move as little more than a sticking plaster for the wider debt crisis.
Industry divided over frantic pace of product launches

Fund Strategy - 5 Mar 2012

Last week Schroders announced its third new product in under a month, confirming that it would launch the ISF European Total Return fund for Nicholette MacDonald-Brown on March 7.
New data casts doubt on US recovery

Fund Strategy - 5 Mar 2012

Weaker manufacturing and consumer spending numbers from America last week cast doubt on the strength of recovery in the world’s largest economy.
Spain to miss 2012 deficit goal, Rajoy admits

2 Mar 2012

Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy has warned that the country will miss the deficit reduction target it agreed with the European Union (EU).
S&P cautious on Nash’s Invesco Bond fund

2 Mar 2012

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has given Mark Nash’s Invesco Bond fund a A/V4 rating but expressed concern about the consistency of the portfolio’s performance.
Jupiter’s Shaftan adds to Russian positions

2 Mar 2012

Elena Shaftan has been adding to the Jupiter Emerging European Opportunities fund’s Russian positions on optimism in the country’s economy and political scene.
Sovereign bonds downgraded to 'highly unattractive'

2 Mar 2012

Developed market government bonds have been downgraded to ’highly unattractive’ by professional services firm Towers Watson.
Neptune eyes changes to Asia Pacific Opps fund

1 Mar 2012

Neptune Investment Management has proposed changes to the mandate of Thomas Sinclair’s £17.3m Neptune Asia Pacific Opportunities fund.
Schroders cuts initial charges

1 Mar 2012

Schroders has aligned the initial charges across its fund range at 3.25% ahead of the retail distribution review’s (RDR’s) implementation at the end of the year.
Pictet adds Kothari to emerging equity team

1 Mar 2012

Pictet Asset Management has bolstered its emerging markets equity team by hiring Prashant Kothari as senior investment manager.
UK manufacturing growth slows in February

1 Mar 2012

The UK’s manufacturing sector continued to expand during February albeit at a slower pace than the month before, according to the latest purchasing managers’ index (PMI).
Man Group profits down 40% to $193m

1 Mar 2012

Man Group saw profits fall by more than 40% during the nine months leading up to 2012, the asset manager’s latest financial results show.
US fourth quarter growth revised to 3%

29 Feb 2012

The US Department of Commerce has revised its growth estimate, saying the economy grew by more than previously thought in the fourth quarter.
ECB’s LTRO pumps €530bn into financial system

29 Feb 2012

The European Central Bank (ECB) boosted the eurozone financial system with close to €530 billion in cheap loans this morning.
Thomas favourite Weir sees profits jump 34%

29 Feb 2012

Profit at Weir Group – the top holding of Axa Framlington’s Nigel Thomas – soared by more than one-third during 2011, the engineering company’s preliminary results show.
Henderson profits beat expectations after Gartmore acquisition

29 Feb 2012

Henderson saw profits rise by almost 60% over the course of 2011 after the acquisition of Gartmore boosted management fees.
Bric growth to remain subdued in 2012, PwC predicts

28 Feb 2012

Growth in the so-called Bric countries of Brazil, Russia, India and China is expected to continue to slow over the next year, a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) argues.
Risk appetite improving among European investors, Morningstar says

28 Feb 2012

European investors appear to be showing signs of improved risk appetite, data from Morningstar suggests, with inflows turning positive in the first month of the year.
European fund sector contracts for second time in decade

28 Feb 2012

The number of funds in the European asset management industry contracted for the second time in the past decade during 2011, according to figures from Lipper.
UK services weakened over last quarter, says CBI

28 Feb 2012

The UK’s service sector weakened over the three months to the end of January, research by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) suggests.
Tisa confirms Solway as incoming chairman

28 Feb 2012

Tony Solway has been named as John Brasington’s successor as chairman of the Tax Incentivised Savings Association (Tisa).
Greece downplays S&P selective default downgrade

28 Feb 2012

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has cut Greece’s credit rating to “selective default” after the country’s bondholders became legally bound to accept the terms of the government’s debt restructuring programme.
Nikkei 225 'could drop 20% on stronger yen'

27 Feb 2012

The recent gains seen in Japanese stocks are unlikely to last throughout the rest of the year and the market could fall by 20%, analysis by Capital Economics suggests.
China urged to reform financial sector

27 Feb 2012

The World Bank has called upon China to overhaul its financial sector in a bid to secure sustainable economic growth.
Old Mutual bond manager cuts cash and gilts

27 Feb 2012

Christine Johnson heavily reduced the weightings to cash and gilts in the Old Mutual (OM) Corporate Bond fund as she injects more risk into the portfolio.
Ingenious acquires Optima Managed Funds

27 Feb 2012

Ingenious Asset Management boosted its offering with funds running £30m from Surrey-based accountancy company Turpin Barker Armstrong (TBA).
SJP pulls Jupiter from equity & bond mandate

27 Feb 2012

The recent launch of a multi-asset fund by St James’s Place (SJP) will result in the American firm Pimco replacing Jupiter Asset Management on a mandate worth more than £500m.
Ashburton hires macro analyst

27 Feb 2012

Investment manager Ashburton has bolstered its asset allocation team with the appointment of a macro analyst.
Schroders to launch European Total Return fund

27 Feb 2012

Schroders will launch an offshore fund targeting European equities for one of its new recruits next month.
OM bond fund manager cuts back on cash and gilts to add more risk

Fund Strategy - 27 Feb 2012

Christine Johnson heavily reduced the weightings to cash and gilts in the Old Mutual (OM) Corporate Bond fund as she injects more risk into the portfolio.
Schroders plans launch for new face

Fund Strategy - 27 Feb 2012

Schroders will launch an offshore fund targeting European equities for one of its new recruits next month.
SJP switches equity and bond mandate to Pimco

Fund Strategy - 27 Feb 2012

The recent launch of a multi-asset fund by St James’s Place (SJP) will result in the American firm Pimco replacing Jupiter Asset Management on a mandate worth more than £500m.
Apple gives investors say in board appointments

24 Feb 2012

Investors in Apple will be granted a greater say in the composition of the technology giant’s board of directors.
Jupiter plans offshore Strategic Bond mirror

24 Feb 2012

Jupiter Asset Management intends to launch an offshore version of Ariel Bezalel’s £695m Jupiter Strategic Bond fund.
Hard to see if crisis is over, Draghi claims

24 Feb 2012

It is hard to identify when the eurozone debt crisis will end despite the recent bailout of Greece, the head of the European Central Bank (ECB) says.
Aberdeen rebrands multi-asset business

24 Feb 2012

Aberdeen Asset Management has renamed its Alternative Investment Strategies business as Aberdeen Solutions.
ONS confirms UK GDP contraction

24 Feb 2012

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has left its estimate of fourth quarter economic growth unrevised at -0.2%, although it says production activity may have contracted by more than thought.
Threadneedle ‘ordered to review systems and controls’

24 Feb 2012

Fund management group Threadneedle has been ordered to carry out a review of its systems and controls after a suspected rogue trade, according to reports.
Intermediaries split on bonds’ importance, Schroders finds

23 Feb 2012

Three-quarters of intermediaries do not think bonds will be the most important asset class for clients in the coming six months, despite almost recognising their value in providing income.
MedicX adds five properties to portfolio

23 Feb 2012

The £140.6m MedicX investment trust has completed the acquisition of five fully-let primary care medical centres across England.
Manufacturing 'set to add to UK growth'

23 Feb 2012

Last month’s improved manufacturing conditions extended into February, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
EC predicts 2012 eurozone recession

23 Feb 2012

The European Commission (EC) expects the eurozone economy to contract during 2012, reversing its previous prediction.
Liddle to leave MAM this month

23 Feb 2012

Sam Liddle will leave MAM Funds at the end of the month to pursue business interests outside of the asset management industry.
Woodford pick BAT boosts 2011 dividend

23 Feb 2012

British American Tobacco (BAT) has increased its share buyback programme and grown its dividend by more than 10% on the back of a boost in annual earnings.
Ashmore posts 2% profit rise for 2011

23 Feb 2012

Asset under management (AUM) at Ashmore fell over the second half of 2011 although the group posted an increase in pre-tax profits, the latest financial results show.
RBS posts £2bn loss for 2011

23 Feb 2012

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has reported an attributable loss of £2 billion, making 2011 the fourth year running the lender has failed to make a profit.
Pimco plans equity strategy for new hire

22 Feb 2012

Pimco has unveiled plans to launch a global equity strategy for new hire Geoffrey Johnson.
Greece downgraded after bailout deal

22 Feb 2012

Fitch Ratings has downgraded Greece’s credit rating to C after the country came to an agreement on the terms of a second bailout package with the international community.
Europe threatens Hungary with €495m funding cut

22 Feb 2012

The European Commission (EC) has taken the “unprecedented step” of threatening to withhold funding from Hungary if the country fails to address its excessive deficit.
Robbins cuts Google weighting in Premier Global Alpha Growth

22 Feb 2012

Jake Robbins has halved the Premier Global Alpha Growth fund’s allocation to internet giant Google as he puts his stamp on the portfolio.
Bank has appetite for further QE, minutes suggest

22 Feb 2012

The Bank of England’s recent Inflation Report suggests an appetite for further quantitative easing (QE), commentators claim.
Falling eurozone activity heightens recession fears

22 Feb 2012

Business activity in the eurozone has slipped back into contraction, exacerbating fears the region will be unable to avoid recession.
St James's Place sees pre-tax profits plunge

22 Feb 2012

Wealth manager St James’s Place saw profit before tax plunge over 2011, according to the group’s annual results.
Invesco’s Read and Causer pulled from SJP fund

22 Feb 2012

St James’s Place (SJP) is to pull the management of the £235m SJP Investment Grade Corporate Bond fund from Invesco Perpetual’s Paul Read and Paul Causer.
Don't ignore strategic bonds, says Defaqto research

22 Feb 2012

Strategic bond funds should not be ignored by advisers just because the portfolios had a relatively poor run over 2011, according to research by Defaqto.
Former Threadneedle trader investigated for alleged rogue trade

22 Feb 2012

A former trader at Threadneedle is being investigated after an alleged rogue trade was stopped by the asset manager.
Pictet unveils global government bond fund

21 Feb 2012

Pictet Asset Management has launched a government bond fund that does not distinguish between developed and emerging market sovereign issuers.
Axa IM sees profits jump as AUM falls

21 Feb 2012

The amount of money run by Axa Investment Managers (IM) fell marginally over the course of 2011, the latest trading update shows.
US and emerging markets lead 2012 investment targets

21 Feb 2012

Asset allocators are expected to channel more money towards emerging market, US and global equities in the coming months, a poll of investors shows.
Bestinvest's list of dog funds

21 Feb 2012

See here for Bestinvest’s list of dog funds.
Apple and Google are not sure-fire winners, tech fund manager warns

21 Feb 2012

Big tech names such as Apple and Google may not be guaranteed to triumph in the phase of “massive dislocation and innovation” being seen in the industry, GLG’s Philip Pearson says.
UK public finances show £7.75bn surplus

21 Feb 2012

The UK’s public finances are at their highest monthly surplus in four years, the latest official figures show.
Firms confident despite euro risks, IoD finds

21 Feb 2012

UK businesses are “relatively confident” about their own prospects regardless of the weak economic outlook, research by the Institute of Directors (IoD) suggests.
Brough pick CSR soars 21% on trading update

20 Feb 2012

Technology company CSR, which is owned by Andrew Brough in the Schroder UK Mid 250 fund, has seen its share price jump by more than one-fifth after issuing a better-than-expected trading update.
German “sluggishness” to last until second quarter, Bundesbank says

20 Feb 2012

The recent slowdown in the German economy is likely to persist over the first quarter of 2012, according to the Deutsche Bundesbank.
Growth has “decelerated sharply”, says OECD

20 Feb 2012

GDP growth in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) area “decelerated sharply” over the fourth quarter of 2011, the latest estimates warn.
Asset managers 'fail when investing on home turf', says Cass

20 Feb 2012

Fund managers “overwhelmingly fail” to make returns when investing the financial sector despite their intimate knowledge of the industry, according to academic research.
Schroders appoints Julia Ho to global macro team

20 Feb 2012

Julia Ho has joined Schroders as a senior portfolio manager in its global macro team.
S&P affirms Japan but warns of downgrade risk

20 Feb 2012

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has maintained Japan’s AA- long-term sovereign credit rating but warns that the country’s outlook remains negative.
China liquidity boost to benefit cyclicals, says Fidelity's Ma

20 Feb 2012

Chinese cyclical stocks are likely to benefit from the country’s recent moving to boost lending and maintain economic growth, Fidelity’s Raymond Ma argues.
Growth forecasts too pessimistic, says Cazenove CIO

Fund Strategy - 20 Feb 2012

British growth forecasts “will have doubled, if not trebled” by the middle of 2012, according to Richard Jeffrey, the chief investment officer at Cazenove Capital Management.
Shrinkage of eurozone economy set to continue

Fund Strategy - 20 Feb 2012

The eurozone economy shrank between October and the end of December, official figures suggest, leading commentators to expect further contraction in the coming quarters.
Police seize $6 trillion in fake US Treasuries

17 Feb 2012

Anti-mafia investigators in Italy say they have seized around $6 trillion in fake US Treasury bonds in Switzerland and arrested eight people in connection with the case.
FSA secures €77,000 redress for boiler room victims

17 Feb 2012

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has secured €77,000 (£64,000) in compensation for the victims of a boiler room scam involving UK incorporated firm Monobank.
Muzinich adds manager to high yield team

17 Feb 2012

Corporate credit specialist Muzinich & Co has hired a senior investment manager for its high yield team.
January sees “major surprise” in retail sales

17 Feb 2012

UK retail sales showed a surprise jump during January, according to the latest official data, increasing hope that household spending will aid the country’s recovery.
Deng pick Baidu posts 77% profit boost

17 Feb 2012

Chinese search engine Baidu – a top holding in the £2.1 billion Baring Hong Kong China fund – saw profits grow by 76.9% in the fourth quarter of 2011.
LGIM employee arrested in FSA insider dealing investigation

17 Feb 2012

An employee of Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) was arrested as part of a Financial Services Authority (FSA)investigation into alleged complex insider dealing.
Fund managers cut return expectations for 2012, survey finds

16 Feb 2012

Investment managers have turned significantly more cautious in their outlooks for returns in the year ahead, a survey by Towers Watson shows.
Neptune reallocates to quality financials

15 Feb 2012

Neptune Investment Management has been reallocating to financials in recent months as it moves away from defensive stocks.
US and emerging markets could sidestep euro fallout, Neptune’s Dowey says

15 Feb 2012

Emerging markets and the US could grow better than expected in 2012 despite the eurozone remaining a substantial threat to the global economy, Neptune’s chief economist argues.
Bank ups inflation forecast and warns of “zigzag” growth

15 Feb 2012

The Bank of England has increased its inflation forecast while warning that growth in the UK looks set to remain uncertain for the coming years.
German economy reverses in Q4 but France sees growth continue

15 Feb 2012

The German economy contracted in the final quarter of 2011, although the country was able to rack up growth over the course of the year.
Cazenove's Smitten downplays gilt correction fears

14 Feb 2012

The main factors supporting “fundamentally overvalued” gilts are likely to remain in place for some time to come, according to Cazenove Capital Management’s Alexander Smitten.
Mergers will not result in job losses, says Henderson

14 Feb 2012

The Henderson managers whose funds are being merged with other products will remain with the company to concentrate on other portfolios, the asset manager confirms.
M&G’s Rhodes: How to avoid the perils of dividend investment

14 Feb 2012

Stuart Rhodes, manager of the £1.7 billion M&G Global Dividend fund, has warned investors about the dangers of concentrating on high yields when seeking opportunities.
UK outlook cut as Moody’s takes action on Europe

14 Feb 2012

Moody’s Investors Service has given the UK’s triple-A credit rating a negative outlook and downgraded Italy, Portugal and Spain in light of the continued risks in Europe.
S&P upgrades Threadneedle American Extended Alpha fund

13 Feb 2012

Stephen Moore’s Threadneedle American Extended Alpha fund has been upgraded by Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Fund Insights.
Fund managers ‘have work to do’ on responsible investing, says Mercer

13 Feb 2012

Fewer than one in ten fund management strategies rated by financial consultancy Mercer have high standards when it comes to environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards.
GLG to soft close Japan fund until liquidity improves

13 Feb 2012

The £1.1 billion GLG Japan CoreAlpha fund will be soft closed next month due to the lack of liquidity which followed last year’s Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
Business surveys predict gloomy first quarter for UK

13 Feb 2012

Business confidence has improved in the UK despite the growing likelihood that the economy will return to recession in the opening months of the year, according to accountancy firm BDO.
Schroders to launch Asia smaller companies fund

13 Feb 2012

Schroders is to launch an Asia and emerging regions “Discovery” fund investing in smaller companies.
Bank shortfall plans will not hurt economy, says EBA

13 Feb 2012

Banks’ plans to address their capital shortfalls are unlikely to have negative impact on the economy, according to analysis by the European Banking Authority (EBA).
Four funds enter Principal's Black List

13 Feb 2012

Big names in the equity income space remain on Principal Investment Management’s ’Black List’ despite some changes in the ranking of consistent underperformers in the sector.
Bank's £50 billion injection 'buys time' for Britain's economy

Fund Strategy - 13 Feb 2012

The Bank of England expanded its asset purchase facility by another £50 billion last week in a move to stop Britain from returning to recession.
Barmac heads Chelsea DropZone list

Fund Strategy - 13 Feb 2012

Chelsea Financial Service has highlighted a number of funds from the former IMA Cautious Managed sector appearing on its inaugural DropZone list of poor performers.
F&C’s Hollands to go in £33m cost-cutting drive

Fund Strategy - 13 Feb 2012

F&C Asset Management’s corporate affairs head will leave the company in the coming months as part of the firm’s drive to slash costs.
Ignis, OM and Standard Life join 'Black List'

Fund Strategy - 13 Feb 2012

Equity income funds from Ignis, Old Mutual, Standard Life and Henderson have been added to Principal Investment Management’s “Black List” of consistent underperformers.
Baring Global Bond rating suspended by Bestinvest

10 Feb 2012

Bestinvest has suspended the rating on the £203.5m Baring Global Bond fund following the recent departure of the portfolio’s manager.
Keep rating agencies free from “political interference”, says IMA

10 Feb 2012

The Investment Management Association (IMA) has called on the government to protect the independent status of credit rating agencies.
China sees imports and exports drop in January

10 Feb 2012

China’s imports and exports fell in January, adding to concerns that the world’s second largest economy is being affected by the global slowdown.
Niesr predicts flat output in 2012

9 Feb 2012

The UK economy has continued to shrink in the opening weeks of the new year, according to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (Niesr).
Distinction transforms Cautious Return fund

9 Feb 2012

Distinction Asset Management has overhauled its £29m Cautious Return fund and appointed a new manager to the portfolio.
Bank boosts QE by £50bn

9 Feb 2012

The Bank of England expanded its quantitative easing (QE) programme today, as widely expected by the markets.
Schroder US Alpha Plus launched with tech focus

9 Feb 2012

The recently-launched Schroder US Alpha Plus fund has one-fifth of its portfolio in technology as the manager strives to capitalise on the innovative drive of the US economy.
Jupiter appoints manager to Global Managed fund

9 Feb 2012

Gregory Herbert has been promoted by Jupiter Asset Management and will run the European portfolio of the Jupiter Global Managed fund.
Woodford stock Vodafone sees revenues hit by euro crisis

9 Feb 2012

Telecommunications firm Vodafone – a top holding of Invesco Perpetual’s Neil Woodford – has seen revenue growth held back by the ongoing economic problems of southern Europe.
Fatca statement welcomed but more clarity requested

8 Feb 2012

The Investment Management Association (IMA) has welcomed a joint statement by the governments of six major countries on the implementation of the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (Fatca).
Chelsea highlights “unacceptable” Cautious underperformance

8 Feb 2012

The number of underperforming funds on Chelsea Financial Service’s RedZone list has “fallen dramatically” at the start of the new year.
Prism launches multi-manager income fund

8 Feb 2012

Prism Capital Management has added an income fund to its £195m multi-manager range.
Hester ‘mulled resignation during bonus outcry’

8 Feb 2012

Stephen Hester considered resigning as the chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) during the furore over his bonus, he has revealed.
Debt crisis dampens hope despite rise in manufacturing

8 Feb 2012

Stronger manufacturing numbers last week raised hope that the British economy has escaped recession at the start of the new year. However the uncertainty surrounding the eurozone debt crisis still makes a contraction a real risk for the country.
Omam sells asset manager to Goldman Sachs

8 Feb 2012

Old Mutual Asset Management (Omam) has sold Dwight Asset Management to Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM).
European meeting debates financial transaction tax

7 Feb 2012

Financial experts and politicians debated the possible merits and pitfalls of a Europe-wide financial transaction tax at a meeting of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee last night.
Hargreaves blames Newton fund performance on stock selection

7 Feb 2012

Hargreaves Lansdown has blamed the Newton Continental European fund’s consumer goods, financial and oil and gas exposures for the portfolio’s below-average performance.
Xstrata and Glencore confirm $90bn merger

7 Feb 2012

Anglo-Swiss mining group Xstrata has confirmed plans to merge with commodity trader Glencore in a $90 billion (£56 billion) deal.
Eurozone would survive Greek exit, officials assert

7 Feb 2012

The eurozone’s existence would not be threatened if Greece was forced out of the currency bloc, European Union (EU) officials have claimed.
Retail sector sees second-worst January on record

7 Feb 2012

The UK retail sector has been hit by its second-worst January on record, following the “dazzling” sales seen over the Christmas period.
Gam launches multi-index fund with Barclays Capital

6 Feb 2012

Asset manager Gam has launched a fund offering exposure to Barclays Capital’s quantitative indices.
Chinese growth may halve with severe euro recession, IMF warns

6 Feb 2012

China’s growth rate will “drop abruptly” if the eurozone is hit by a severe recession, a report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) argues.
F&C Commercial Property completes share issue

6 Feb 2012

Richard Kirby’s F&C Commercial Property trust has successfully raised £15m through issuing new shares.
Hambro pick Randgold up on 2011 production figures

6 Feb 2012

Gold miner Randgold Resources – a top holding in Evy Hambro’s BlackRock Gold & General fund – has seen its share rise after reporting that 2011 production hit the top end of its guidance.
Debt crisis dampens hope despite rise in manufacturing

Fund Strategy - 6 Feb 2012

Stronger manufacturing numbers last week raised hope that the British economy has escaped recession at the start of the new year. However the uncertainty surrounding the eurozone debt crisis still makes a contraction a real risk for the country.
Cautious Managed tops 2011 sales figures

3 Feb 2012

Investors poured money into the former IMA Cautious Managed sector and balanced funds last year as the eurozone crisis dominated sentiment, the latest statistics show.
Most people have zero risk appetite, FSA finds

3 Feb 2012

The majority of people have no risk appetite at all when it comes to investments, the latest research by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) shows.
Standard Life income fund downgraded by Bestinvest

3 Feb 2012

Bestinvest has downgraded the £705.2m Standard Life UK Equity High Income fund after losing confidence in the portfolio’s investment process.
Service sector boost ‘eases recession fears’

3 Feb 2012

Growth in the UK service sector could see the UK stave off a renewed recession, a closely-watched survey suggests.
Lloyd George closes Asian Green fund

3 Feb 2012

Lloyd George Management has closed the LG Asian Green fund after deeming the product to be unviable given its small size.
UK on brink of recession, warns Niesr

3 Feb 2012

The UK economy is set to contract by 0.1% across the course of 2012, according to the latest analysis by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (Niesr).
Facebook has no investment case yet, warns Henderson’s Warmerdam

2 Feb 2012

Henderson’s technology team is remaining cautious on the investment case for Facebook until more concrete details on the social networking website’s financial strength emerge.
Hambro picks Glencore and Xstrata in merger talks

2 Feb 2012

Shares in Glencore International and Xstrata – two of the top holdings of the £7.7 billion BlackRock World Mining fund – have rocketed after they entered into merger talks.
Consistent outperformance is a “fluke”, says Bonham Carter

2 Feb 2012

The asset management industry focuses too much on short-term figures and fails to realise consistent outperformance is a “statistical fluke”, according to Edward Bonham Carter, group chief executive at Jupiter.
Income fund staple AstraZeneca warns on 2012 earnings

2 Feb 2012

Income investor favourite AstraZeneca has given an earnings warning for 2012, planned further job cuts and announced another $4.5 billion (£2.9 billion) of stock buy-backs.
Lazard European Alpha criticised for "inconsistent performance"

2 Feb 2012

The recent outperformance of the £98.96m Lazard European Alpha fund may not continue into the future, a review by Hargreaves Lansdown argues.
US recruitment gains ease in January

1 Feb 2012

The pace of recruitment activity slowed in the US over January following the strong gains seen in the previous month, the latest figures show.
UK heading for 2012 recession, IFS predicts

1 Feb 2012

The UK economy will spend the opening months of 2012 in technical recession before recovering later in the year, according to forecasts by the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS).
Liontrust AUM breaks through £1.4bn for first time since 2009

1 Feb 2012

Liontrust Asset Management’s assets under management (AUM) has broken through the £1.4 billion marker for the first time since 2009.
Brewin Dolphin posts rise in funds under management

1 Feb 2012

Brewin Dolphin’s funds under management rose by 3.8% during the last three months of 2011, its latest financial results show.
Absolute return 'should have done better', says Thames River's Potter

31 Jan 2012

The absolute return sector only managed to generate “miserable returns” during the final quarter of 2011, according to analysis by Thames River Multi-Capital.
Fidelity Portfolio fund downgraded by OBSR

31 Jan 2012

Old Broad Street Research (OBSR) has downgraded the rating of the £134m Fidelity Portfolio fund to better reflect its conviction in the portfolio’s asset allocation.
Aviva Investors reassures on UK retail market

31 Jan 2012

Aviva Investors has stressed that it remains committed to its UK retail business after recently announcing a number of changes to its operations.
OBSR removes L&G High Income rating

31 Jan 2012

The rating of the £1.6 billion L&G High Income fund has been removed from the Old Broad Street Research (OBSR) fund rating service due to the portfolio’s recent change of management.
OBSR grants “A” ratings to Liontrust and JOHCM funds

31 Jan 2012

Two funds have been added to OBSR Fund Ratings following a review by the investment research firm on January 12.
JPM Natural Resources fund downgraded

31 Jan 2012

OBSR Fund Ratings has downgraded the £2 billion JPM Natural Resources fund following plans to change its manager.
Aviva Investors to move away from retail funds market

30 Jan 2012

Aviva Investors plans to axe 160 jobs globally as the asset manager takes steps to reduce its presence in the retail funds market.
Industry welcomes ETF consultation paper

30 Jan 2012

The exchange-traded fund (ETF) industry has welcomed the European Securities and Markets Authority’s (Esma’s) draft guidelines to improve the products’ transparency and investor decision-making.
Henderson Opportunities trust starts to trim portfolio

30 Jan 2012

James Henderson is trimming the portfolio of the Henderson Opportunities investment trust to stem the losses caused by the continued difficulties facing UK companies.
Adoboli pleads not guilty in UBS case

30 Jan 2012

Alleged rogue trader Kweku Adoboli has entered a not guilty plea against charges that he was involved in the UK’s largest ever loss from unauthorised trading.
JPM UK Equity managers defend against Hargreaves Lansdown criticism

30 Jan 2012

Hargreaves Lansdown has blamed the JPM UK Equity fund’s “consistently poor performance” on stock selection in the financials sector.
Man signs UN responsible investment pact

30 Jan 2012

Man Group has become the largest UK-based alternative assets manager to sign the United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) pact.
Esma unveils draft ETF rules

30 Jan 2012

The European Securities and Markets Authority (Esma) has published draft guidelines which reinforce protection for exchange-traded funds (ETF) investors.
ECB liquidity support “is not a panacea”, says Moody’s

30 Jan 2012

European banks are likely to increasingly rely on funding from the European Central Bank (ECB) although this could have a number of negative consequences, according to Moody’s.
Unchecked spending cuts will hurt growth, Lagarde warns

30 Jan 2012

Economic growth could be strangled if countries simply implement across-the-board spending cuts to sort out their public debt problems, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned.
Credit funds flee gilts in bubble fear

30 Jan 2012

Some credit managers have slashed their exposure to gilts amid fears that a bubble is developing in British government bonds.
RBS chief Hester turns down £963k bonus

30 Jan 2012

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) boss Stephen Hester has turned down a £963,000 bonus, after the reward sparked controversy in the public eye.
Aviva beefs up multi-asset range for post-RDR

Fund Strategy - 30 Jan 2012

Aviva Investors has unveiled two funds for Justin Onuekwusi’s multi-asset range as it moves to prepare the suite for the post-retail distribution review (RDR) world.
Chancellor to have authority over Bank in crises

Fund Strategy - 30 Jan 2012

The chancellor of the exchequer is to be given authority to direct the Bank of England during times of crisis, George Osborne, the present chancellor, confirmed last week.
Credit funds flee gilts in bubble fear

Fund Strategy - 30 Jan 2012

Some credit managers have slashed their exposure to gilts amid fears that a bubble is developing in British government bonds.
Morse defends banking overweight in Fidelity European

Fund Strategy - 30 Jan 2012

Fidelity’s Sam Morse has defended maintaining his overweight position to European financials at a time when there are renewed fears of a bank crisis on the Continent and a “gloomy” outlook for the region’s economy.
Tobin tax vs stamp duty: Both are worse, says BDO's Crean

27 Jan 2012

The suggested Europe-wide stamp duty could suffer from many of the problems associated with the so-called Tobin tax, a specialist from BDO argues.
Harries’ pick Procter & Gamble posts 49% profit fall

27 Jan 2012

Procter & Gamble – a top holding of James Harries’ Newton Global Higher Income fund – has seen profits drop by almost half after booking writedowns on two businesses.
Bank and FSA set out regulatory framework

27 Jan 2012

The Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) have published details of how the incoming ‘twin peaks’ micro-regulatory system will work in practice.
Greek haircut needs to be 75%, says Ignis' Bowie

27 Jan 2012

The Greek government and its private-sector creditors appear to be edging closer to a deal on the Greek debt haircut, although one bond manager warns the two sides could be forced back to the negotiating table within years.
Aberdeen funds differ on Mitsubishi Estate outlook

27 Jan 2012

The £200.8m Aberdeen Asia Pacific and Japan fund has sold its holding in Mitsubishi Estate after failing to see the fruits of the property developer’s expansion plans.
Gold’s bull run ‘not over yet’, investors say

26 Jan 2012

The continued loose monetary policy of central banks is likely to keep gold in the crosshairs of investors for some time to come, according to industry specialists.
Retail sales drop as Christmas boost ebbs

26 Jan 2012

UK retail sales dropped to “poor” levels during January after the modest rise in the previous month, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) says.
Aviva unveils new multi-asset funds for Onuekwusi

26 Jan 2012

Aviva Investors has bolstered its multi-asset range with addition of two funds targeting defensive and moderately cautious investors.
France faces the “hell” of eurozone periphery, warns Dr Doom

26 Jan 2012

France’s management of its economic affairs means the country should not be considered part of the eurozone’s inner core, economist Nouriel Roubini has argued.
Fed to hold rates at near-zero until 2014

26 Jan 2012

The US Federal Reserve has surprised the markets by confirming that it does not expect to increase key interest rates until late 2014.
Cameron vows “no complacency” on UK economy

25 Jan 2012

Prime minister David Cameron has hit out at accusations that the coalition government has been complacent over the economy’s recovery.
FSA ‘has created more questions’, PwC claims

25 Jan 2012

The FSA’s discussion paper on the Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIFM) directive creates “more questions than answers” on how the regulations will be implemented in the UK, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
Vanguard chief calls on industry to improve fee transparency

25 Jan 2012

The asset management industry needs to improve transparency and how performance-related fees are awarded to better serve investors, the head of Vanguard UK argues.
UK manufacturing remains fragile, CBI warns

25 Jan 2012

Conditions in the manufacturing sector are still fragile, research by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) suggests.
Capitalism needs to change, investors say

25 Jan 2012

Almost one in three international investors favour radical changes to the capitalist system, research by Bloomberg finds.
Weldon pick Apple announces record $13 billion profit

25 Jan 2012

Technology giant Apple – a favourite holding of investors such as Threadneedle’s Cormac Weldon and M&G’s Aled Smith – has posted record quarterly profits.
MPC unanimous on no policy change in January

25 Jan 2012

The Bank of England’s nine-strong Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) unanimously voted to hold the base rate and its asset purchase programme at their current levels, the minutes from its most recent meeting show.
European earnings could fall 5%, BlackRock research warns

24 Jan 2012

Earnings of European businesses could fall by up to 5% in the coming year, according to BlackRock’s European equity research team.
Winkelmann pick Siemens sees 27% fall in profits

24 Jan 2012

Siemens has reported a fall in profits as the eurozone debt crisis and falling demand from China affect its operations.
Bank of Japan cuts growth outlook

24 Jan 2012

The Bank of Japan has cut its economic forecast for the year starting in April, saying the eurozone debt crisis and the strong yen will hamper growth.
UK public debt passes £1 trillion mark

24 Jan 2012

Government borrowing dropped by £2.2 billion during December but total public sector debt has passed £1 trillion for the first time, according to official statistics.
Bennett sticks to Henderson European Focus pharma play

24 Jan 2012

John Bennett intends to keep pharmaceuticals as a key theme in the £111m Henderson European Focus trust, despite some commentators raising questions on the sector’s future prospects.
IMF cuts growth forecasts for all, bar US

24 Jan 2012

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cut its 2012 growth forecasts for every region apart from the US, warning that recovery has stalled in most countries.
IMF to slash growth estimates tomorrow

23 Jan 2012

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) plans to cut its growth forecasts for most regions tomorrow, the lender’s managing director has revealed.
Morse defends Fidelity European’s financials overweight

23 Jan 2012

Sam Morse has maintained the Fidelity European fund’s overweight to financials despite fears of a banking crisis on the continent and the region’s “gloomy” economic outlook.
Burdett and Potter shuffle Lifestyle’s Asia exposure

23 Jan 2012

Thames River’s Rob Burdett and Gary Potter have added the BlackRock Pacific ex-Japan Equity Tracker to their Lifestyle portfolios after selling another holding.
TSC slams Bank’s oversight ideas as ‘falling well short’

23 Jan 2012

Proposals by the Bank of England on how to reform its oversight fall “well short of what is required”, according to the Treasury select committee (TSC).
iShares adds to commodity ETF range

23 Jan 2012

BlackRock exchange-traded fund (ETF) provider iShares has added four London-listed commodity swap-based products to its range.
Debt sell-off stokes deflation fears

Fund Strategy - 23 Jan 2012

Emerging market central banks cutting their holdings of US treasuries could have repercussions for the American economy, according to one global strategist.
Google disappoints as top tech firms post results

20 Jan 2012

Google has disappointed the markets, as three major tech companies post their fourth-quarter results.
December retail sales ‘delay contraction fears’

20 Jan 2012

Increased retail sales at the end of last year have bolstered hopes that the UK economy avoided contraction before the New Year, official figures suggest.
GLG Japan Core Alpha holdings hit by downgrades

20 Jan 2012

Two companies found in the top five holdings of the £1.2 billion GLG Japan Core Alpha fund have been warned by Moody’s over their financial health.
Ireland hits austerity targets, troika finds

19 Jan 2012

Ireland managed to complete the austerity measures needed to secure bailout loans from the international community, a review by the so-called troika concludes.
Buffett boosts Tesco stake after profit warning

19 Jan 2012

Veteran US investor Warren Buffett has upped his stake in Tesco following the supermarket giant’s profit warning earlier this month.
International Oil and Gas Technology trust faces $15.8m damages claim

19 Jan 2012

A former co-investment manager of the £44.4m International Oil and Gas Technology trust has launched proceedings to claim more than £10m in damages.
Lazard unveils emerging markets fund for Jai Jacob

19 Jan 2012

Lazard Asset Management has launched a new fund based on an existing emerging markets strategy run by manager Jai Jacob.
Aberdeen's assets grow 2.4% in fourth quarter

19 Jan 2012

The amount of money run by Aberdeen Asset Management rose by 2.4% over the fourth quarter of the year, despite the company witnessing net outflows.
OBSR suspends Swip fund rating over manager illness

18 Jan 2012

Financial services consultancy Old Broad Street Research (OBSR) has suspended the rating on the £46.3m Swip European Income fund after one of its co-managers was taken ill.
Goldman sees Q4 profits cut in half

18 Jan 2012

Goldman Sachs saw profits fall by more than half over the fourth quarter of 2011, although this was better than analysts’ expectations.
Eurozone also at risk of currency crisis, warns Dagong

18 Jan 2012

Chinese ratings agency Dagong Global Credit Rating has warned that the eurozone debt crisis could morph into a currency crisis as the year progresses.
Global economy in a dangerous phase, warns World Bank

18 Jan 2012

The World Bank has warned that the global economy “has entered a dangerous phase” and is at risk of another large recession.
Man Group AUM drops 9.5% in fourth quarter

18 Jan 2012

The amount of money managed by Man Group fell by 9.5% over the fourth quarter of the year as the asset manager was hit market volatility and investor redemptions.
Liontrust Asian Income to favour China and Indonesia on launch

18 Jan 2012

The forthcoming Liontrust Asian Income fund is likely to be overweight China and Indonesia on its launch later in the year, manager Mark Williams has revealed.
Buxton pick Burberry sees fourth-quarter revenue growth

17 Jan 2012

Fashion retailer Burberry, a favourite holding of Schroders’ Richard Buxton, has posted a 21% increase in fourth-quarter revenues.
Chinese growth slows to 2.5-year low

17 Jan 2012

The Chinese economy expanded at its weakest pace in two and a half years during the fourth quarter, the latest official figures show.
Costa Concordia accident ‘to cost Carnival up to $95m’

16 Jan 2012

The grounding of cruise ship Costa Concordia could cost owner Carnival up to $95m (£62m), the company says.
The Share Centre adds three funds to Platinum 120

16 Jan 2012

Three funds owned by JP Morgan, Invesco Perpetual and Fidelity have been added to The Share Centre’s Platinum 120 list.
UK ‘is back in recession’, warns ITEM Club

16 Jan 2012

The UK economy is most likely already in recession as the events on the continent hamstring the country’s recovery, according to the Ernst & Young ITEM Club.
No value left in gilts, say Thames River multi-managers

16 Jan 2012

Thames River’s Gary Potter and Rob Burdett plan to avoid gilts during the coming months after saying the asset class has been stripped of value.
Osborne vows to make London a renminbi trading hub

16 Jan 2012

The government hopes to make London a leading international centre for Chinese currency trading, according to George Osborne.
Cazenove unveils cheaper multi-manager share class

Fund Strategy - 16 Jan 2012

Cazenove Capital Management has unveiled part of its post-retail distribution review (RDR) strategy, saying it wants to encourage investors to use advisers.
Currencies set to weaken with fresh easing, say experts

Fund Strategy - 16 Jan 2012

The Bank of England and the European Central Bank’s (ECB’s) first monetary policy meetings of the new year passed without any major changes being unveiled, leading to only minor movements on the currency markets.
Two to go in Thames River global credit revamp

Fund Strategy - 16 Jan 2012

Mehrdad Noorani and Chris Currington are set to leave Thames River as the asset manager restructures its global credit team.
Greek debt restructuring talks collapse

13 Jan 2012

Talks to address the restructuring of Greek debt have collapsed, edging the eurozone closer to a default by one of its members and placing the risk of a break-up back in the spotlight.
Gold miners poised to boost dividends, PwC finds

13 Jan 2012

Most gold mining companies expect the price of the yellow metal to peak at $2,000 per ounce this year, according to research by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
Skandia UK Best Ideas criticised by Hargreaves Lansdown

13 Jan 2012

Hargreaves Lansdown has drawn attention to the “disappointing” recent performance of Lee Freeman-Shor’s Skandia UK Best Ideas fund.
JP Morgan Chase posts "modestly disappointing" fourth quarter

13 Jan 2012

JP Morgan Chase has reported lower fourth-quarter profits after trading by its investment banking division weakened.
Noorani and Currington to leave Thames River

13 Jan 2012

Thames River has hired a new manager for its global credit team but will lose two members as part of the team’s restructuring effort.
Bank takes no action on interest rate and QE

12 Jan 2012

The Bank of England has maintained the base interest rate at 0.5%, keeping the rate at a historical low for its 34th month running.
Economic freedom ‘at risk’, warns US think tank

12 Jan 2012

Hong Kong has held onto its status as the world’s freest economy, according to research by a US conservative think tank.
Frikkee pick Tesco down after “disappointing” Christmas

12 Jan 2012

“Disappointing” festive trading in the UK has caused Tesco’s share price to tumble in early trading.
Cazenove European downgraded by Bestinvest

11 Jan 2012

Bestinvest has downgraded Chris Rice’s Cazenove European fund on concerns over the extent of the manager’s responsibilities and the portfolio’s recent performance.
International investors wary about EFSF, says Ignis' Thomson

11 Jan 2012

International investors are becoming less willing to support the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), a breakdown of the latest bond auction suggests.
Cazenove to launch unbundled share classes ahead of RDR

11 Jan 2012

Cazenove Capital Management will give intermediaries access to unbundled share classes on its equity and multi-manager funds ahead of the implementation of the retail distribution review (RDR) at the end of this year.
Time to buy defensive is over, says Rathbone's Thomson

10 Jan 2012

James Thomson is looking to add more aggressive positions to the Rathbone Global Opportunities fund after seeing signs of optimism in the US.
Threadneedle hires governance and responsible investment head

10 Jan 2012

Threadneedle has hired Aviva Investors’ Iain Richards as its new head of governance and responsible investment.
December retail boosted by “major one-off factors”

10 Jan 2012

Improved retail sales last month could have helped the UK to avoid recession but consumer spending is expected to remain squeezed in the opening months of 2012.
Falling export growth ‘to drag on China at 2012 start’

10 Jan 2012

China’s trade surplus shrank in 2011 as turmoil in Europe and the US slowed the country’s export growth, the latest official figures show.
UK recession “not a foregone conclusion”, says BCC

10 Jan 2012

The UK is facing further deterioration in its economic health but a recession can still be avoided, says the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).
Asset managers to face strong competition from banks, warns Ernst & Young

10 Jan 2012

The retail asset management industry could suffer in 2012 as banks compete to attract savings business, professional services firm Ernst & Young predicts.
Financial transactions tax 'would leave a €116 billion hole'

9 Jan 2012

The European Union’s proposed financial transactions tax could leave a hole of up to €116 billion (£95.6 billion) in the region’s public finances, analysis by Ernst & Young suggests.
Germany sells bonds at negative yield

9 Jan 2012

Germany has sold €3.9 billion (£3.2 billion) of six-month bonds with a negative yield as investors continue to seek safe havens.
Woodford pick GSK down after mixed trial results

9 Jan 2012

Shares of investor favourite GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have fallen after the pharmaceutical giant’s latest batch of clinical trials proved underwhelming.
iShares total assets hit $105.9 billion

9 Jan 2012

Exchange traded fund (ETF) platform iShares saw its total assets under management in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) grow by 4% during 2011.
Flying start for regional debt auction

Fund Strategy - 9 Jan 2012

The debt auction calendar started 2012 briskly in the eurozone, with Germany, France and Portugal selling bonds last week.
Jobless figures fall, despite losses in state sector

Fund Strategy - 9 Jan 2012

?The American labour market is showing signs of continued recovery, although there are doubts this will last over the coming year.
Surprise as potential leader opts not to join new sector

Fund Strategy - 9 Jan 2012

The IMA launched its Global Equity Income sector last week, although one big name passed up the chance of taking its lead spot to remain in its current sector.
Fidelity aligns multi-asset charges

6 Jan 2012

Fidelity has aligned the fees on its multi-asset suite, setting the annual management charge (AMC) on the three funds at 1.25%.
Fitch downgrades Hungary to junk status

6 Jan 2012

Hungarian government debt has been downgraded to junk by Fitch due to ongoing concerns about the country’s fiscal and economic health.
US employment situation shows further gains

6 Jan 2012

The employment situation in the US continues to improve, according to the latest official figures, adding to the positive data coming out of the world’s largest economy.
Stenham unveils new fund of hedge funds

6 Jan 2012

Stenham Asset Management has launched a new global macro fund of hedge funds in response to continued interest in the sector.
Employment and retail sales drop in eurozone

6 Jan 2012

Unemployment in the eurozone remains at record highs while retail sales continue to fall, the latest official figures show.
Safe havens are shrinking, warns Merrill Lynch’s O'Neill

6 Jan 2012

Investors will continue their search for safe havens in the coming 12 months, Merrill Lynch’s Bill O’Neill says, although the opportunities open to them have shrunk.
Lombard Odier poaches ING’s Gupta

6 Jan 2012

Pranay Gupta has been hired as Lombard Odier’s new chief investment officer (CIO) for Asia and global head of investment solutions.
UK services growth hits five-month high

5 Jan 2012

Growth in the UK service sector has jumped to a five-month high, alleviating fears that that the country is in a new recession.
French bond auction sees higher yields and lower demand

5 Jan 2012

France has sold more than €4 billion (£3.31 billion) of ten-year bonds, although it had to accept higher yields and saw falls in demand.
Global recession risk has doubled, warns iShares’ Koesterich

5 Jan 2012

The risk of a new global recession in the coming 12 months has grown due to the continued problems of the eurozone, says iShares’ Russ Koesterich.
China looks at £53.7 billion in government debt irregularities

4 Jan 2012

Chinese authorities are investigating irregularities in more than Rmb 530 billion (£53.7 billion) of local government debt, according to the country’s national auditor.
M&G Global Dividend stays away from IMA Global Equity Income sector

4 Jan 2012

M&G will not move its £1.6 billion Global Dividend fund over to the IMA Global Equity Income sector as it does not agree with managing the portfolio to a prescribed yield target.
Germany fails to sell €1 billion of bonds

4 Jan 2012

Germany has sold €4.06 billion (£3.39 billion) of ten-year government debt at auction, after seeing greater demand than at the bond’s launch in November.
Wood holding Next hits pre-Christmas sales target

4 Jan 2012

Clothes retailer Next – a top holding of John Wood’s JOHCM UK Opportunities fund – has reported on-target autumn and pre-Christmas sales despite “slightly disappointing” performance by its high street stores.
Fed to publish interest rate projections

4 Jan 2012

The Federal Reserve is to publish regular interest rate forecasts as part of its drive to become more transparent.
IMA sector launch delayed

4 Jan 2012

The launch of one of the Investment Management Association (IMA) managed sectors has been delayed as there are too few funds to populate it.
IMA confirms Global Equity Income members

3 Jan 2012

The £2.1 billion Newton Global Higher Income fund is among the products included in the Investment Management Association’s (IMA’s) new Global Equity Income sector, the trade body has confirmed.
IMA populates new money market sectors

3 Jan 2012

The Investment Management Association (IMA) has revealed how its two new money market sectors will be constructed.
ECB will come round to quantitative easing, says RLAM's Coffey

3 Jan 2012

The European Central Bank (ECB) will have to eventually embark on a quantitative easing programme despite its current reluctance, according to Royal London Asset Management’s (RLAM’s) head of equities Jane Coffey.
FSA ordered firms to pay almost £100m more in compensation during 2011

3 Jan 2012

Firms regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) paid out more than £160m in compensation to their clients last year, according to City law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.
UK manufacturing shows continued weakness, says Markit

3 Jan 2012

Manufacturing production continued to contract in the UK last month although activity has picked up, a survey by Markit and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply shows.
Leading economies ‘face $7.6 trillion of maturing debt’ in 2012

3 Jan 2012

The world’s leading economies will see more than $7.6 trillion (£4.9 trillion) of government debt mature across 2012, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Further declines seen in Chinese manufacturing

30 Dec 2011

Chinese manufacturing activity has slowed for the second month running, the latest survey shows, adding to calls for more stimulus in the world’s second largest economy.
JP Morgan strategists pick 2012 bright spots

30 Dec 2011

Economic growth will struggle to rise above 0.5% in the eurozone next year, according to JP Morgan Asset Management’s global strategists, although the picture is more cheerful in other parts of the world.
Iran tension to hold oil at $115 a barrel, says Barclays Wealth’s Gardiner

30 Dec 2011

Oil is expected to remain at elevated levels over the coming 12 months, Barclays Wealth’s head of global investment strategy predicts, especially if tension with Iran continues.
Investment trusts optimistic on income in 2012, AIC finds

30 Dec 2011

Next year could be an opportune time for income investing despite persistent uncertainty on the global economic stage, the Association of Investment Companies’ (AIC’s) latest poll suggests.
Hungary cancels three-year debt auction

29 Dec 2011

Hungary has cancelled part of a government debt auction and seen the yield on government bonds rise.
“Only way is up” for Japan in 2012, says Schroders’ Maeda

29 Dec 2011

The coming year in Japan could well be a case of “the only way is up”, the head of Japanese equities at Schroders argues.
2012 recovery cannot rely on UK consumer, argues RCM’s Thomas

29 Dec 2011

Any recovery in the UK economy over the next 12 months is likely to be driven by increased exports or business investment and not consumer spending, according to RCM’s Jeremy Thomas.
Japan and India sign currency swap deal

29 Dec 2011

Japan and India have signed a currency swap agreement as they work to strengthen their financial cooperation.
Emerging markets underpin 2012 European equity power picks, says S&P

29 Dec 2011

Access to emerging markets will be a common feature of European equities that manage to succeed amid the turbulence likely to be seen in 2012, according to research by Standard & Poor’s (S&P).
“Modest” 2012 recovery despite euro woes and deleveraging, predicts Russell Investments

28 Dec 2011

The global economy has no choice but to continue with deleveraging across 2012, according to predictions by Russell Investments.
Henderson’s Palmer: Three emerging markets to watch in 2012

28 Dec 2011

Brazil, Russia and South Africa are among the developing markets poised to avoid the economic problems blighting the West next year, according to Henderson’s emerging market equities director.
UK has to make voice heard in 2012, warns IMA

28 Dec 2011

The UK will have to work increasingly hard next year to make sure it has its say on a number of incoming European financial regulations, the Investment Management Association (IMA) says.
Fitch slashes emerging Asia growth forecast

23 Dec 2011

Ratings agency Fitch has lowered its 2012 growth estimate for emerging Asia, citing a global economic slowdown and policy tightening.
UK services output falls in October

23 Dec 2011

Service sector output in the UK decreased by 0.7% month-on-month in October, the government’s figures show.
Profit expectations improve at year end, McKinsey finds

23 Dec 2011

Most executives expect profits to improve over the next six months, according to research by a leading global management consultancy.
French Q3 growth revised down

23 Dec 2011

The French economy grew by less than expected in the third quarter of the year, according to the latest statistics.
Euro needs more than a Greece fix in 2012, warns Omam’s Heslop

22 Dec 2011

A successful restructuring of Greece’s debt is not enough to make the wider issues affecting the eurozone go away, warns Old Mutual Asset Managers’ Ian Heslop.
F&C Commercial Property makes £33m warehouses acquisition

22 Dec 2011

The F&C Commercial Property trust has made two acquisitions in the north-west and Scotland in deals totalling £33.3m.
Kames High Yield Bond to lift fee to 1.25%

22 Dec 2011

Kames Capital will increase the annual management charge (AMC) of its high-yield bond fund from March next year.
Toyota outlook cut to negative despite sales rise forecast

22 Dec 2011

Toyota Motor has seen its outlook cut to negative by Moody’s Japan K.K. despite forecasting sales to grow by one-fifth in the coming year.
Fitch warns again on US debt

22 Dec 2011

Ratings agency Fitch has reiterated warnings that the US could lose its AAA credit rating if it fails to address its growing federal debt.
UK GDP revised upwards in Q3

22 Dec 2011

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revised up the UK’s economic growth for the third quarter of 2011.
Newton Income fund dropped from Wealth 150

21 Dec 2011

Richard Wilmot’s Newton Income fund has been removed from Hargreaves Lansdown’s Wealth 150 list of favourite funds.
Flee from consensus investing in 2012, says Franklin Templeton’s Zoellner

21 Dec 2011

Now is not the time for European investors to follow the herd and seek out defensive stocks, according to Franklin Templeton’s head of pan-European equities.
Italian debt headed for 2012 flash point, predicts Schroders’ Wade

21 Dec 2011

Italy will reach a “flash point” in the opening quarter of next year as the country’s debt mountain becomes increasingly unsustainable, according to Schroders’ chief economist.
UK consumer confidence ‘falls to three-year low’

21 Dec 2011

Consumer confidence in the UK has fallen to its lowest point in close to three years, according to a poll by GfK NOP.
Reforms will “buttress” UK retail banking, says Fitch

21 Dec 2011

Pressing ahead with the recommendations of the Independent Commission on Banking is likely to make the UK’s core retail banks safer, Fitch Ratings states.
Moody's warns of “formidable” challenges to UK’s Aaa rating

21 Dec 2011

Moody’s Investors Service has warned that the UK’s Aaa credit rating faces “formidable and rising challenges” in its annual report on the country.
UK retail boost not expected to last, CBI warns

20 Dec 2011

Retail sales volumes in the UK have grown for the first time in more than half a year, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), although they remain weak in a historical context.
Shadow banking ‘a risk to Chinese stability’, says Schroders’ Wade

20 Dec 2011

China still has the opportunity to prevent a burst property bubble, although the “booming” shadow banking system presents an increasing risk to stability, according to Schroders’ Keith Wade.
EFSF debt’s AAA rating tied to France, says Fitch

20 Dec 2011

The AAA rating of European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) debt “largely depends” on France hanging onto its own top-notch credit status, according to Fitch Ratings.
IMA’s Saunders slams “irresponsible scaremongering” by media

20 Dec 2011

The chief executive of the Investment Management Association (IMA) has hit out at media reports about fund managers imposing so-called hidden charges, labelling them “irresponsible scaremongering”.
Woodford darling AstraZeneca takes $381.5m R&D hit

20 Dec 2011

AstraZeneca, a favourite stock of investors such as Invesco Perpetual’s Neil Woodford, will take a $381.5m (£245m) hit after two drugs in its development pipeline were set back.
Adviser confidence in UK continues to wane, Skandia finds

20 Dec 2011

Financial advisers are continuing to lose confidence in the UK economy, according to Skandia’s latest Adviser Confidence Barometer.
Martin Currie opens Global Emerging Markets Sicav to investors

19 Dec 2011

Martin Currie’s new best-ideas, emerging markets Sicav has opened to retail investors with overweight positions in names such as Samsung Electronics and Petroleo Brasileiro.
IMA “disappointed” with draft financial services bill report

19 Dec 2011

The Investment Management Association (IMA) has expressed some reservations over the Joint Committee on the Draft Financial Services Bill’s report.
Kim Jong-il death warrants “close attention”, says Fitch

19 Dec 2011

The death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il means the relationship between North and South Korea will have to be “monitored closely”, Fitch Ratings says.
Invista European Real Estate looks to “new start” after 2011 loss

19 Dec 2011

The appointment of a new manager will herald “a new start” for the Invista European Real Estate trust, its chairman says.
HMV Group posts further sales and profits falls

19 Dec 2011

Sales and profits at entertainment retailer HMV Group fell sharply during the six months to October 29, the firm’s latest financial results show.
SEC charges former Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac executives

16 Dec 2011

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged six former top executives of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with securities fraud.
Burdett and Potter drop L&G Dynamic Bond from Lifestyle funds

16 Dec 2011

Thames River’s Rob Burdett and Gary Potter have sold the Legal & General Dynamic Bond fund across the four funds in the £359.3m F&C Lifestyle range.
Ingenious VCTs to sell Creamfields stake

16 Dec 2011

Two of Ingenious’ venture capital trusts (VCTs) plan to sell their stake in the Creamfields dance music festival for a total consideration of £2.78m.
UK now seen as safe haven, IMA poll suggests

16 Dec 2011

Retail investors will likely view the UK as a safe haven from the uncertainty expected to blight the eurozone during 2012, according to the Investment Management Association (IMA).
Indonesia upgraded by Fitch Ratings

16 Dec 2011

Fitch Ratings has upgraded Indonesia, returning the country’s debt to investment-grade status after 14 years as junk.
Taylor pick Telefónica announces 2012 dividend cut

15 Dec 2011

Telefónica, a top-ten holding of Jeffrey Taylor’s Invesco Perpetual European Equity fund, has decided to lower its dividend for the first time.
Acorn Income to issue ZDP shares

15 Dec 2011

Shareholders in the Acorn Income fund have voted in favour of issuing zero dividend redeemable preference shares (ZDP shares) and other proposals.
Manufacturing showing continued weakness, says CBI

15 Dec 2011

UK manufacturers expect production to fall further over the coming three months, according to the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI’s) latest research.
UK retailers hit by November sales fall

15 Dec 2011

Retail sales in the UK fell last month despite the sector entering the crucial Christmas period, the latest official figures show.
F&C UK Property boosts portfolio with three acquisitions

15 Dec 2011

The F&C UK Property fund has increased its number of holdings by half after acquiring three new sites.
Bankers’ bonuses did not cause crisis, claims Bath University study

14 Dec 2011

There is no evidence to suggest that bonuses encouraged bankers to take excessive risks for short-term profit, according to a new academic study.
Thomas Cook to axe 200 UK branches under turnaround plan

14 Dec 2011

Thomas Cook’s share price has been dealt another blow after the travel operator announced plans to close more stores than expected.
Artemis ups renewable exposure in Global Energy fund

14 Dec 2011

The Artemis Global Energy fund is poised to raise its allocation to renewables by investing in a private company developing innovative fuel cells.
Hong Kong is the most developed financial market, claims WEF

14 Dec 2011

Hong Kong has been named the world’s most developed financial market by the World Economic Forum (WEF), usurping the position of the US.
Most KIIDs fail to achieve aims, study claims

14 Dec 2011

Asset managers could be failing to match regulators’ expectations and may risk liability when producing Key Investor Information Documents (KIIDs), new research suggests.
UK unemployment at highest level since 1994

14 Dec 2011

The number of unemployed people in the UK has reached its highest point since September 1994, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Fund managers expecting 2012 volatility, finds AIC poll

13 Dec 2011

An “overwhelming” majority of fund mangers expect increased volatility to persist into 2012, according to research by the Association of Investment Companies (AIC).
Baring India fund “more cautious” on consumer story

13 Dec 2011

The new Baring India fund will be relatively cautious on the country’s popular consumer growth story, but is poised to target opportunities in the telecoms, healthcare and financial sectors, its manager reveals.
Standard Life property fund buys Harlow trade park

13 Dec 2011

The Standard Life Investments UK Property fund has bought a trade park in Harlow from Axa Real Estate.
Growth to slow in Chinese house building, Fitch predicts

13 Dec 2011

The Chinese house building sector is expected to see slower growth over the coming year, according to Fitch Ratings.
Gam hires CQS’ Love and Nogueira for new fund

13 Dec 2011

Tim Love and Joaquim Nogueira have joined Gam to manage a new emerging market equity fund.
Lau pick ENN Energy hit by two downgrade warnings

13 Dec 2011

Two ratings agencies have warned that a top holding of Martin Lau’s First State Greater China Growth fund is at risk of being downgraded.
UK inflation falls to 4.8%

13 Dec 2011

UK inflation dropped to 4.8% during November, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Rogoff’s Polar tech trust underperforms benchmark

13 Dec 2011

Exposure to small-cap stocks, semiconductor companies, networking firms and Chinese IT service providers have been blamed for the recent underperformance of the Polar Capital Technology trust.
Neuberger Berman US Large Cap Growth keeps AA rating “for now”

13 Dec 2011

The Neuberger Berman US Large Cap Growth fund has retained its Standard & Poor’s (S&P) AA rating after making significant changes to the structure of its investment team.
Income darling Imperial Tobacco gets OFT fine quashed

12 Dec 2011

Income investor favourite Imperial Tobacco has seen its share price rise after winning a case against the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).
Rhodes pick Intel slashes revenue forecast by $1 billion

12 Dec 2011

US chipmaker Intel - a top-ten holding in Stuart Rhodes’ M&G Global Dividend fund - has slashed its fourth-quarter revenue forecast by $1 billion (£640m).
Somerset opens small- and mid-cap emerging markets fund

12 Dec 2011

Somerset Capital Management has launched its new fund targeting small- and mid-cap businesses in emerging markets.
UK ‘closer to recession’ as OECD data worsens

12 Dec 2011

Further declines in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD’s) leading indicators suggest the UK is getting closer to recession, according to macroeconomic forecasting consultancy IHS Global Insight.
Continued uncertainty holds back Ucits sales, Efama finds

12 Dec 2011

Ucits funds were hit by continued net outflows in October after the poor economic outlook dominated investors’ concerns, according to figures from the European Fund and Asset Management Association (Efama).
Moody's to review all EU ratings

12 Dec 2011

Moody’s Investors Service will review the credit ratings of all European Union (EU) countries, after last week’s summit failed to come up with a concrete solution to the debt crisis.
Artemis energy fund boosts exposure to 'innovative' renewables

Fund Strategy - 12 Dec 2011

The Artemis Global Energy fund is poised to raise its allocation to renewables by investing in a private company developing innovative fuel cells.
IFAs back new hiring for Fidelity global fund

Fund Strategy - 12 Dec 2011

The replacement of the Fidelity Global Special Situations fund’s manager has raised hopes that the portfolio’s poor track record can be turned round.
Investec adds global and emerging market funds

Fund Strategy - 12 Dec 2011

?Investec Asset Management unveiled two funds last week, announcing global contrarian and emerging markets multi-asset portfolios.
US funds benefit from investors' euro fears

9 Dec 2011

Investors are continued to look beyond the crisis-hit eurozone and towards the more favourable picture emerging in the US, according to the latest fund flows.
Britain alone in rejecting EU treaty

9 Dec 2011

The UK now appears to be the only European Union (EU) member to block changes to its treaty designed to stem the eurozone debt crisis.
3i Infrastructure downgraded over portfolio construction

9 Dec 2011

Bestinvest has downgraded the 3i Infrastructure investment trust after becoming concerned by the construction of its portfolio.
FSA to change RCB regulatory framework

9 Dec 2011

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has made some changes to its regulatory framework for UK regulated covered bonds (RCB).
Bilfinger Berger Global Infrastructure given Bestinvest rating

9 Dec 2011

The new Bilfinger Berger Global Infrastructure investment trust has won a rating from Bestinvest ahead of its launch.
Investec unveils Global Contrarian Equity fund

9 Dec 2011

Investec Asset Management has launched a new Luxembourg-domiciled fund for its contrarian team headed by Alastair Mundy.
European banks face €114.7 billion capital shortfall, says EBA

9 Dec 2011

Europe’s banking system has a higher capital shortfall than previously estimated, the European Banking Authority’s (EBA’s) latest round of stress tests shows.
Moody's downgrades three largest French banks

9 Dec 2011

BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole and Société Générale - France’s three biggest banks - have been downgraded by ratings agency Moody’s Investors Service.
Moody's warns on risks to Japan’s creditworthiness

8 Dec 2011

Moody’s Investors Service has warned Japan that the factors supporting its Aa3 credit rating face challenges in the years ahead.
ECB cuts rates and unveils "further non-standard measures"

8 Dec 2011

The European Central Bank (ECB) has lowered the official eurozone interest rate for a second month running as it battles the region’s worsening economic conditions.
Bank holds off on monetary policy changes

8 Dec 2011

The Bank of England has held the base interest at its historic low of 0.5% for the 33rd month running.
Newton pick Tesco falls on weaker sales

8 Dec 2011

Supermarket giant Tesco, a top ten holding of Iain Stewart’s Newton Balanced fund, has seen its share price dip after sales fell in the third quarter.
EU credit rating under threat, says S&P

8 Dec 2011

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has placed the AAA rating of the European Union (EU) on “CreditWatch with negative implications” after issuing a similar warning to 15 eurozone states.
Threadneedle's Podger poached for Fidelity Global Special Sits

8 Dec 2011

Jeremy Podger will replace Jorma Korhonen as manager of the £1.5 billion Fidelity Global Special Situations fund.
William Davies named Threadneedle’s global equities head

8 Dec 2011

Threadneedle’s William Davies has been appointed as head of global equities at the asset manager.
UK growth “remains subdued”, says Niesr

7 Dec 2011

The UK economy grew by just 0.3% during the three months ending in November, according to an estimate by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (Niesr).
Rathbones’ Coombs puts more risk on the table

7 Dec 2011

David Coombs, the head of multi-asset investments at Rathbones, is introducing more risk to his portfolios on the back of renewed hope in the eurozone.
Advisers reluctant to recommend their career, survey reveals

7 Dec 2011

Most retail investment advisers are reluctant to recommend their career to others, a Financial Services Authority (FSA) commissioned report says.
RDR requirements influence industry leavers, FSA report finds

7 Dec 2011

The majority of retail investment advisers planning on leaving the industry cite the retail distribution review (RDR) as one of their reasons, research commissioned by the FSA shows.
Rathbones appoints Andrew Butcher to executive team

7 Dec 2011

Rathbone Brothers has appointed Andrew Butcher as its new chief operating officer, subject to regulatory approval.
Chote defends OBR revisions to Treasury Committee

6 Dec 2011

The head of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has been forced to defend the independent watchdog’s GDP revisions to MPs.
EFSF hit by S&P downgrade warning

6 Dec 2011

The European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) has been given a downgrade warning by Standard & Poor’s (S&P), after the agency put a negative outlook on the ratings of most eurozone countries.
Asian Development Bank warns on “growing danger” of eurozone crisis

6 Dec 2011

Growth in emerging Asia is being placed at risk by the economic problems plaguing the developed West, according to the Asian Development Bank.
Finance Bill 2012 confirms tax transparent fund details

6 Dec 2011

Authorised tax transparent funds will be introduced into the UK next year after regulators are granted more powers, the draft Finance Bill 2012 confirms.
China not poised for massive stimulus, claims Schroders’ Parbrook

5 Dec 2011

China is unlikely to start a programme of rapid stimulus despite cutting the reserve ratio requirement (RRR) for banks last week, Schroders’ head of Asian equities argues.
Eurozone defaults would knock 5% off growth, says PwC

5 Dec 2011

Orderly defaults by the eurozone’s most indebted members could cause the region’s economy to shrink by 5% in the coming few years, research by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) claims.
Ireland remains in crisis, says Kenny

5 Dec 2011

Ireland is still living beyond its means and its economy remains fragile, the country’s leader has said in a televised address.
Vanguard trackers added Vantage platform

5 Dec 2011

Several of Vanguard Asset Management’s tracker funds have been added to Hargreaves Lansdown’s Vantage platform.
Calls grow from European equity income sector

5 Dec 2011

The IMA last week created a global equity income sector, but it faces continued calls for a grouping solely for Europe-focused funds.
Chinese admit property close to 'turning point'

5 Dec 2011

Property prices in China are approaching a “turning point”, the country’s central bank last week admitted for the first time.
Enderlein rejoins Skandia European Best Ideas fund

5 Dec 2011

Wellington Management’s Dirk Enderlein will replace Baring Asset Management’s James Buckley on the Skandia European Best Ideas fund.
MAM Funds hires former Witan chief executive

5 Dec 2011

Robert Edwards Clarke, the former chief executive of the Witan trust, has been appointed to a senior role at MAM Funds.
Aberdeen profits up despite fall in AUM

5 Dec 2011

Aberdeen Asset Management has posted a 44% jump in profits over the year to September 30, although the amount of money run by the company has fallen on the back of recent market volatility.
UK services see modest November growth

5 Dec 2011

The UK’s service sector managed to show modest growth last month, despite concerns regarding the country’s wider economic health.
After Global, calls for Europe sector

Fund Strategy - 5 Dec 2011

The IMA last week created a global equity income sector, but it faces continued calls for a grouping solely for Europe-focused funds.
Chinese admit property close to 'turning point'

Fund Strategy - 5 Dec 2011

Property prices in China are approaching a “turning point”, the country’s central bank last week admitted for the first time.
Bestinvest downgrades BlackRock UK Absolute Alpha fund

2 Dec 2011

Mark Lyttleton’s BlackRock UK Absolute Alpha fund has been downgraded by Bestinvest after the IFA became “disappointed” with its performance.
US unemployment falls but growth worries remain

2 Dec 2011

The US unemployment rate fell in November as 120,000 people found work during the month, but commentators warn this may not protect the country’s nascent recovery.
Europe moving to fiscal union, says Merkel

2 Dec 2011

German chancellor Angela Merkel has said Europe is already moving towards “fiscal union” as it embarks on a “marathon” effort to solve the debt crisis.
MF Global 'likely to leave $1.2 billion shortfall'

2 Dec 2011

Failed broker-dealer MF Global dipped into customer funds for weeks before its collapse and it is unlikely all this money will be recovered, according to authorities investigating the case.
Nutt pick SABMiller approved to buy Foster’s

2 Dec 2011

The £6.5 billion deal for SABMiller to take over brewer Foster’s can go ahead after winning approval from an Australian state court.
Chinese bank liquidity under strain, warns Fitch

2 Dec 2011

The Chinese banking sector is “under growing strain” as its loan quality continues to weaken and cash buffers are eroded, according to Fitch Ratings.
"Banks have significant refinancing needs", says Bank of England

1 Dec 2011

The UK’s banks should boost their capital to help them withstand the expected global economic downturn, the Bank of England claims.
November’s markets ruled by recession fears, says S&P

1 Dec 2011

The continued “rollercoaster ride” in the global economy caused the vast majority of Standard & Poor’s (S&P) indices to fall last month, according to the latest figures.
Chinese property could drop by 20%, says Premier’s Sung

1 Dec 2011

Property prices in China could fall by as much as one-fifth over the coming year as demand for housing begins to tail off, claims Premier Asset Management’s Fen Sung.
Manufacturing activity “out of steam”, warns Markit

1 Dec 2011

UK manufacturing activity has fallen to its lowest level since June 2009 while all eurozone countries saw contraction last month, according to recent economic surveys.
Schroders economists cut 2012 growth outlook

1 Dec 2011

Schroders’ economics team has slashed its forecast for global growth next year on anticipation of an “outright recession” in the eurozone.
ADP employment report adds to positive US data

30 Nov 2011

Employment in the US private sector jumped by a more-than-expected 206,000 during November, the latest ADP National Employment Report shows.
Eurozone break-up more likely than union, argues F&C’s Scott

30 Nov 2011

Full fiscal union or a break-up of the eurozone are the only lasting solutions to the region’s debt crisis - and union is unlikely to be seen, according to F&C’s Ted Scott.
Absolute Return trust downgraded by Bestinvest

30 Nov 2011

Bestinvest has downgraded the £177.5m Absolute Return trust because of a period of weak performance.
IMA Managed sectors to harmonise with ABI counterparts

30 Nov 2011

The Investment Management Association (IMA) and the Association Of British Insurers (ABI) will harmonise their Managed/Mixed Investment sectors.
Europe at risk of 'lost decade', warns Threadneedle CIO

30 Nov 2011

The sheer scale of eurozone bank deleveraging makes even flat growth in 2012 appear to be an optimistic forecast, Threadneedle’s chief investment officer (CIO) argues.
Axa bolsters distribution team

30 Nov 2011

Axa Investment Managers has hired Benjamin Rumary as its investment sales manager for the Channel Islands, Ireland and the south-west.
S&P “concerned” over M&G’s Woolnough fund size

29 Nov 2011

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) is “becoming concerned” by the increasing size of Richard Woolnough’s £5.5 billion M&G Optimal Income fund, according to its latest report on the portfolio.
Statement 2011: What the industry thinks

29 Nov 2011

Chancellor George Osborne delivered his autumn statement today, saying the UK will avoid recession, borrowing may be above initial forecasts, the bank levy will rise and investment will be made in a number of areas of the economy.
Statement 2011: AIC delights at Osborne's VCT move

29 Nov 2011

The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) has applauded chancellor George Osborne for scrapping the £1m limit on venture capital trusts (VCTs).
Statement 2011: Bank levy lifted to 0.088%

29 Nov 2011

The bank levy will be increased from the start of next year as the current rate has failed to raise sufficient revenue, according to the chancellor’s autumn statement.
Statement 2011: VCT £1m limit to be removed

29 Nov 2011

The £1m investment limit on venture capital trusts (VCTs) will be lifted, according to the new autumn statement from the chancellor.
Statement 2011: Osborne confirms seed EIS

29 Nov 2011

A new enterprise investment scheme will be launched to encourage support for start-up companies in the UK, chancellor George Osborne has confirmed.
Statement 2011: Borrowing higher than hoped but interest lower

29 Nov 2011

The UK is set to borrow more than originally anticipated but is enjoying lower than expected debt interest payments, according to the chancellor.
Statement 2011: Osborne optimistic on growth

29 Nov 2011

Chancellor George Osborne has denied that the UK is on the verge of another recession, despite recent warnings by think tanks on the country’s growth.
European economic confidence drops to two-year low

29 Nov 2011

Economic confidence in Europe has fallen to its lowest level in two years, according to the latest official data.
Investors flee European equity funds, says Fitch

29 Nov 2011

The amount of money run by European equity funds has dropped by 46% since 2007, figures published by Fitch Ratings show.
Eurozone recession a “foregone conclusion”, says BlackRock’s Doll

29 Nov 2011

Recession in the eurozone is almost a certainty even if policymakers find a solution to the bloc’s debt crisis, according to BlackRock’s Bob Doll.
Emerging Asia growth to remain solid, says OECD

29 Nov 2011

Emerging Asia’s economic growth is expected to have eased over 2011 but still remains well above the rates seen in the west, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) claims.
Standard Life property trust sells Northern and Shell Tower

28 Nov 2011

The Standard Life Investments Property Income trust has agreed to sell the Northern and Shell Tower in London’s Docklands for £12.2m.
Hambro favourite Randgold hit by "series" of production setbacks

28 Nov 2011

Randgold Resources, a top holding of Evy Hambro’s BlackRock Gold and General fund, has seen its share price slide after revising down its 2011 production guidance.
Small funds ‘more consistent performers’, says Thames River research

28 Nov 2011

Smaller funds are more likely to deliver consistent performance than their larger peers, according to research by Thames River Multi-Capital.
RDR demands “at least three” share classes, Deloitte claims

28 Nov 2011

Investment managers will need to have at least three share classes in the post-retail distribution review (RDR) world, according to Deloitte.
Aberdeen hires former Close managing director

28 Nov 2011

Former Close managing director Mark Parry has been appointed as a senior investment manager within Aberdeen Asset Management’s multi-asset team.
UK services hit by worsening conditions, CBI finds

28 Nov 2011

Business conditions in the UK service sector continue to worsen as household spending is squeezed and fears over the eurozone debt crisis mount, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) warns.
Fed's QE3 hints spark market opposition

Fund Strategy - 28 Nov 2011

America’s Federal Reserve has hinted that it could launch a third round of quantitative easing (QE) to boost economic growth. But not all commentators are convinced that injecting more money into the system will help.
Invesco hires manager for US Equity

Fund Strategy - 28 Nov 2011

Invesco Perpetual has appointed Newton Investment Management’s Simon Laing to take over its underperforming US Equity fund.
Trade association bemoans welter of regulation

Fund Strategy - 28 Nov 2011

The speed at which the European Commission is drafting financial regulation will prove damaging to the industry and to the European Union’s (EU) economic health, the IMA’s head claims.
Aberdeen World Growth and Income upgraded to S&P AA

25 Nov 2011

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has upgraded the Aberdeen World Growth and Income fund to AA as it aligns the ratings of the asset manager’s global range.
Eurozone has entered “survival mode”, warns GLG’s Akel

25 Nov 2011

European leaders have a matter of weeks to act before the break-up of the eurozone becomes a real possibility, according to GLG’s Christophe Akel.
IMA head warns on "tidal wave" of financial regulation

25 Nov 2011

The “tidal wave” of European regulation flowing from the financial crisis may prove ultimately damaging to the region’s economy, the chief executive of the IMA argues.
Italy pays record rate at debt auction

25 Nov 2011

Italy had to pay record interest rates at an auction of short-term debt today, adding to fears that the eurozone’s third largest economy will be next victim of the debt crisis.
Templeton Global Euro fund clings to S&P rating

25 Nov 2011

The A rating on the £321.4m Templeton Global Euro fund is “under intense pressure” because of a legacy of poor performance, according to Standard & Poor’s (S&P).
Hungary's credit rating slides to junk

25 Nov 2011

Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded Hungary’s credit rating to junk status, just days after the country sought further support from the international community.
Eurozone bonds set for worst year in a decade, says Henderson’s Ward

24 Nov 2011

EMU bonds are on track to have their worst run of performance in more than a decade, according to Henderson Global Investors’ chief economist.
UK manufacturing hit by falling orders

24 Nov 2011

The UK’s manufacturing sector saw its order books weaken during November as export orders suffered particularly strong falls, Confederation of British Industry (CBI) research shows.
Mobius pick Antofagasta enjoys 28% profit hike

24 Nov 2011

Chilean miner Antofagasta, a top position of Mark Mobius’ Templeton Latin America fund, has reported a 28% jump in nine-month profits.
Invesco Perp poaches Newton's Laing for US fund

24 Nov 2011

Simon Laing has been appointed as head of US equity fund management at Invesco Perpetual, filing the spot left vacant by Andrew Shard earlier this year.
F&C research highlights trusts’ relative outperformance

24 Nov 2011

Most investment trust sectors outperform their open-ended peers when it comes to share price total returns, according to new research commissioned by F&C Investments.
RDR could disenfranchise investors, argues F&C’s Morse

24 Nov 2011

The Financial Services Authority’s retail distribution review (RDR) runs the risk of disenfranchising many investors from advice, F&C’s Ed Morse warns.
UK growth estimate left at 0.5%

24 Nov 2011

UK GDP grew by 0.5% in the third quarter of the year in line with expectations, according to the latest official estimate.
Iceland given stable outlook by S&P

24 Nov 2011

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has revised its outlook for Iceland to stable in light of the nation’s growth prospects and improved economic fundamentals.
Classic economic models "almost redundant", warns Jupiter's Lawery

23 Nov 2011

The ongoing economic turmoil is so different from previous crises that it warrants economic textbooks being re-written, one of the managers of the Jupiter Merlin portfolios suggests.
GLG Strategic Bond waits on Europe before buying high-yield

23 Nov 2011

The new GLG Strategic Bond fund will reduce its defensive stance and explore opportunities in “very attractive” high-yield bonds once conditions in Europe improve, according to its manager.
Chinese manufacturing contracts in November

23 Nov 2011

Manufacturing activity in China has fallen to a 32-month low, the latest estimates suggest.
Lyttleton pick Compass posts annual profit jump

23 Nov 2011

Shares in catering firm Compass Group have been buoyed by a rise in annual profits of more than 10%.
IMF bolsters crisis lending toolkit

23 Nov 2011

Fresh lending measures to help countries insulate themselves from the ongoing eurozone debt crisis have been unveiled by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
FOMC members argue for further easing

23 Nov 2011

“A few” Federal Reserve policymakers recommended the central bank consider further monetary easing, according to the Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC’s) latest minutes.
Bank stimulus depends on credibility, reminds MPC's Tucker

22 Nov 2011

It is essential that the Bank of England’s monetary policy safeguards the institution’s credibility as a fighter of inflation, according to Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) member Paul Tucker.
Focus Media tumbles after short-sellers question viability

22 Nov 2011

Focus Media Holding, a US-listed Chinese company held by a number of retail funds, has seen its shares plummet after being targeted by a short-selling group.
Stop demonising bankers, says CBI president

22 Nov 2011

Authorities should stop the “demonisation’’ of banking and other industries to help the UK return to growth, says Roger Carr, president of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
One-third of trusts yield more than FTSE, says AIC

21 Nov 2011

One-third of investment companies currently yield more than the FTSE 100, according to the research by the Association of Investment Companies (AIC).
Schroders economists warn of eurozone crisis spread

21 Nov 2011

The eurozone debt crisis is on the brink of spreading to the bloc’s core members, according to economists at Schroders.
Dobell pick Centrica announces Norway gas and oil deal

21 Nov 2011

British Gas owner Centrica has acquired new North Sea oil and gas assets and signed a deal to guarantee UK gas supplies for the next decade.
Thames River fixed income funds win S&P A ratings

21 Nov 2011

Two Dublin-domiciled funds managed by Thames River’s Stephen Drew have been granted an A rating by Standard & Poor’s (S&P).
Cazenove mulls new funds for Rice and Harvey

21 Nov 2011

Cazenove Capital is eyeing new products for Chris Rice, European equity manager, and Peter Harvey, fixed income manager.
Artemis Global Energy adds to Asia and Brazil exposure

21 Nov 2011

The £84.1m Artemis Global Energy fund made a number of purchases to increase its exposure to key markets, its latest factsheet reveals.
Growth worries recede amid positive US data

Fund Strategy - 21 Nov 2011

A raft of positive economic data was published in America last week, alleviating concerns over the prospects for growth in the world’s largest economy.
Inflation slows as jobless total rises

Fund Strategy - 21 Nov 2011

Britain’s rate of inflation slowed by more than expected during October, official figures showed last week, although unemployment crept to a 17-year high.
Risks build for China’s financial firms

Fund Strategy - 21 Nov 2011

China’s financial system faces a “steady build-up” of vulnerabilities, with bad loans remaining the greatest risk to its banks, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warns.
Artemis's Wolstencroft continues move to value stocks

18 Nov 2011

Philip Wolstencroft is continuing to realign the £234.8m Artemis European Growth fund towards the value stocks.
ABN Amro writes down €500m in Greek debt

18 Nov 2011

Dutch bank ABN Amro has seen its third-quarter profits all but wiped out after writing down the Greek debt inherited from previous owners.
Draghi calls for “urgent” work on EFSF

18 Nov 2011

Mario Draghi, the new governor of the European Central Bank (ECB) has called for “urgent” progress on the beefed-up eurozone bailout fund.
Cautious Managed tops FundsNetwork's October sales

18 Nov 2011

The IMA Cautious Managed sector was FundsNetwork’s most popular sector with IFAs during October, while the Fidelity MoneyBuilder Income fund was the bestselling product.
Eurozone break-up by 2014 is a possibility, says Dr Doom

17 Nov 2011

Nouriel Roubini is not ruling out a break-up of the eurozone in the coming two years, after claiming the spread of the region’s debt crisis is approaching an unsustainable point.
Portugal review warns of “pronounced” 2012 recession

17 Nov 2011

Portugal is likely to be hit by a stronger than expected recession next year, a review mission carried out as part of the country’s bailout programme claims.
Barings to launch India fund for Argal

17 Nov 2011

Baring Asset Management has unveiled an Indian-focused equity fund for recent hire Ajay Argal.
Asante holding SABMiller profits on emerging market growth

17 Nov 2011

SABMiller saw net profits increase by 10% in the opening half of the year, driven by strong growth in emerging markets.
October retail sales "better than expected", says ONS

17 Nov 2011

Retail sales in the UK grew unexpectedly last month as retailers upped their promotions in the pre-Christmas season, according to the latest official figures.
M&G Global Convertibles fund given S&P rating

17 Nov 2011

The £502.9m M&G Global Convertibles fund has secured a AA/V5 rating from Standard & Poor’s (S&P).
Invesco's Chesson and Parks buy into Honda

17 Nov 2011

Paul Chesson has added a “significant position” in Honda Motors to the portfolio of the £307.1m Invesco Perpetual Japan fund.
BoE Inflation Report: All the reactions

16 Nov 2011

Experts have started to react to the Bank of England’s (BoE’s) latest Inflation Report, which lowered the UK’s growth estimate and warned that the economic outlook has worsened.
Invesco Perp Latin American continues move towards Brazil

16 Nov 2011

Dean Newman has added Brazilian energy company HRT Participacoes to the portfolio of the £407.8m Invesco Perpetual Latin American fund.
Martin Currie European fund lowers bank exposure

16 Nov 2011

The £17m Martin Currie European fund has cut its exposure to banks by selling holdings in a number of institutions.
US inflation falls unexpectedly

16 Nov 2011

Inflation in the US fell for the first time in four months during October, according to the latest official figures.
Eurozone is "single biggest risk" to UK recovery, says BoE

16 Nov 2011

The eurozone debt crisis is making it increasing difficult to gauge the UK’s future growth prospects, the Bank of England says.
Mobius pick Antofagasta denied Pakistan mining lease

16 Nov 2011

A joint venture of Antofagasta has been refused a licence for a new mining development in Pakistan.
UK unemployment hits 2.62m

16 Nov 2011

Unemployment in the UK rose by 129,000 over the third quarter to its highest point in 17 years, the latest official data reveals.
France unlikely to hit 2012 growth target, LSR argues

15 Nov 2011

France’s official growth forecast of 1.7% for next year is “very optimistic” after the country posted its latest batch of economic data, according to Lombard Street Research.
Global environment clouds Chinese equities outlook, says Maurer

15 Nov 2011

External factors such as global economic slowdown and inflation stemming from the increase in commodity prices is clouding the outlook for Chinese stocks, according to Henderson’s Caroline Maurer.
Threadneedle holding Walmart hit by Q3 profit fall

15 Nov 2011

US retailer Walmart, a stock recently purchased by Threadneedle’s Jeremy Podger, has posted a fall in third-quarter profits in spite of seeing revenues rise by more than 8%.
Weldon favourite Coca-Cola unveils $2 billion India investment

15 Nov 2011

Soft drinks giant Coca-Cola, a top holding of fund managers such as Threadneedle’s Cormac Weldon and M&G’s Aled Smith, has unveiled a $2 billion (£1.24 billion) investment in India.
IMF warns on build-up of vulnerabilities in Chinese banks

15 Nov 2011

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned China about a “steady build-up” of vulnerabilities in its financial sector.
Vanguard hires equity and fixed income heads

15 Nov 2011

Vanguard Asset Management has made two senior appointments to its London-based investment teams.
Buxton pick Burberry boosts dividend

15 Nov 2011

Luxury fashion group Burberry, a top ten holding in Richard Buxton’s Schroder UK Alpha Plus fund, has lifted its dividend after posting strong financial results.
Italian concerns boost precious metal ETC inflows

14 Nov 2011

Investors have flocked to precious metal exchange-traded commodities (ETCs) after concerns over Italian sovereign debt heightened last week, according to ETF Securities.
OECD indicators show slowing global activity

14 Nov 2011

Every economy monitored by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has been hit by a slowdown, according to the latest figures.
Edinburgh Worldwide amends investment policy

14 Nov 2011

The Edinburgh Worldwide trust has changed its investment policy to allow the portfolio to hold unlisted equities.
GLG Strategic Bond fund launched for Akel

14 Nov 2011

GLG has launched a global strategic bond fund for fixed-income manager Christophe Akel.
UK jobs at risk of "slow, painful contraction", claims CIPD

14 Nov 2011

The UK jobs market faces a “slow, painful contraction” as businesses delay hiring new workers, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
Way launches Global Trend fund

14 Nov 2011

Way Fund Managers has unveiled a new fund that will primarily invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and follow an absolute return mandate.
Barnier slams “serious” France downgrade gaffe

11 Nov 2011

The erroneous downgrade of France by Standard & Poor’s strengthens the case for closer regulation, according to the European internal market commissioner.
Allianz write-downs meet expectations but Italian exposure remains

11 Nov 2011

German insurer Allianz is unlikely to be downgraded after write-downs caused profits to tumble by 80%, according to Fitch.
Eurozone has panicked over crisis, claims Ireland’s ex-Europe minister

11 Nov 2011

Policymakers in the eurozone have reacted to headlines about the debt crisis with panic and have “poisoned” the debate on default, according to former Irish politician Dick Roche.
UK banks remain heavily exposed to eurozone woes, says LSR

11 Nov 2011

UK banks have slashed their exposure to sovereigns on the eurozone periphery but remain significantly exposed to their financial sectors, according to analysis by Lombard Street Research (LSR).
Uncertainty ‘dampening efforts to boost EFSF firepower’

11 Nov 2011

Uncertainty in the market is stalling plans to boost the firepower of the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), the bailout fund’s head claims.
Cazenove hires high-yield credit analyst

11 Nov 2011

Carter Holloran will join Cazenove Capital’s credit team next week as a high-yield credit analyst.
EFSF bond secures Aaa Moody’s rating

10 Nov 2011

Moody’s Investors Service has given the first bond issued under the European Financial Stability Facility’s (EFSF) amended structure its top rating.
Burdett and Potter shuffle Lifestyle property holdings

10 Nov 2011

Rob Burdett and Gary Potter have made a number of changes to the property allocation in F&C Investments’ £359m Lifestyle range.
Cautious Managed sales surge in October, says Cofunds

10 Nov 2011

Cautious Managed funds made up more than half of October’s sales, the latest trends figures from Cofunds show.
European Commission says EU recovery "has stopped"

10 Nov 2011

European economic growth has “stalled” and the region is at real risk of suffering another recession, according to the latest official forecast.
Ingenious unveils fifth EIS entertainment fund

10 Nov 2011

Ingenious Ventures has launched its fifth enterprise investment scheme (EIS) fund specialising in the entertainment sector.
September sees bond funds take outflow hit, Lipper says

10 Nov 2011

Bond funds were hit by increased outflows over the course of September, according to the latest statistics from data provider Lipper.
Argonaut's Norris pick EADS sees Q3 profits soar

10 Nov 2011

Airbus owner EADS, a top holding of Barry Norris’ Ignis Argonaut European Alpha fund, has reported an increase in profits but pushed back the launch date of its new jet.
S&P cuts Jupiter Income’s AAA rating

9 Nov 2011

Anthony Nutt’s £2 billion Jupiter Income trust has lost its Standard & Poor’s (S&P) AAA rating because of poor performance over the last five years.
Oil may hit $150 a barrel, says IEA

9 Nov 2011

Oil could reach $150 a barrel in the years ahead without sufficient investment in the Middle East, the International Energy Agency (IEA) warns.
Skandia to move to London

9 Nov 2011

Skandia Investment Group (SIG) plans to relocate to London to bring it closer to clients.
Fixed income managers more afraid of double-dip, Fitch finds

9 Nov 2011

Most European fixed income investors believe there is a strong danger of a double-dip recession, according to the latest research by Fitch Ratings.
Funds of funds sales holding out better than other products, says IMA

9 Nov 2011

The amount of money held in funds of funds, trackers and ethical portfolios fell during the third quarter of the year, according to the Investment Management Association (IMA).
Put Robin Hood tax to bed, says Osborne

9 Nov 2011

George Osborne has railed at the suggested Europe-wide financial transaction tax, telling the Economic and Financial Affairs Council to “just put this idea to bed”.
CBI cuts 2011 growth forecast to 0.9%

9 Nov 2011

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has slashed its UK growth outlook for this year and next in its latest economic forecast.
Polnik to head S&W pooled funds broker desk

9 Nov 2011

Julian Polnik has been appointed as the new head of the broker desk for Smith & Williamson Investment Management’s (Swim’s) pooled funds business.
McLeod-Clarke pick Admiral plummets after profit warning

9 Nov 2011

Admiral Group - a top ten holding in Nick McLeod-Clarke’s BlackRock UK Income fund - has seen its share price tumble after warning full-year profits could be “towards the lower end” of expectations.
Berlusconi offers to step down after budget reform

9 Nov 2011

Silvio Berlusconi has offered to step down as Italian prime minister once the embattled country passes its austerity measures.
Greece update: Papandreou asks cabinet to resign

8 Nov 2011

Athens appears to be making tentative progress in forming its new unity government, according to reports.
MP Hoban dodges questions on regulators' diversity

8 Nov 2011

Mark Hoban, financial secretary to the Treasury, sidestepped questions on whether the UK’s new financial regulators will seek to appoint women into senior positions.
Woodford holding AstraZeneca falls on poor drug trial

8 Nov 2011

AstraZeneca, the top holding of Neil Woodford’s income funds, has reported worse-than-expected trial results for a drug it hoped would bolster next year’s earnings.
Luxembourg Compromise still an option, Hoban tells TSC

8 Nov 2011

The UK would consider invoking the Luxembourg Compromise to safeguard its financial sector from European legislation, the financial secretary to the Treasury says.
Artemis Income pick Vodafone lifts profit outlook

8 Nov 2011

Income fund favourite Vodafone has increased its profit outlook after beating earnings expectations in the last six months.
Hasenstab favourite Korea rated positive by Fitch

7 Nov 2011

Ratings agency Fitch has lifted Korea’s outlook from stable to positive due to the nation’s improving sovereign creditworthiness.
‘Bleak’ eurozone retail sales heighten recession fears

7 Nov 2011

Retail sales fell in the eurozone over the course of September, adding to fears that the region is on the brink of another recession.
Waverton equity fund performance fees axed

7 Nov 2011

JO Hambro Investment Management has scrapped the performance fees on its Waverton equity fund range.
Omam adds to sales and marketing teams

7 Nov 2011

Old Mutual Asset Managers (Omam) has made three appointments to its sales and marketing teams.
Fund managers divided over banks, says S&P

7 Nov 2011

UK fund managers remain split over how to include banks in their portfolios, according to new analysis by S&P Capital IQ.
ECB could stop buying Italian bonds, warns governing member

7 Nov 2011

The European Central Bank (ECB) could stop buying Italian debt if the country does not follow through on financial reform, a member of its governing council has warned.
Indonesian GDP grows 6.5% in third quarter

7 Nov 2011

The Indonesian economy expanded by more than 6% over the third quarter of the year, pushed along by consumption and investment, according to official figures.
Euro collapse would benefit UK, research argues

7 Nov 2011

A break-up of the eurozone would ultimately help the UK after the short-term pain of the event, according to a business thinktank.
UK economy 70% at risk of double dip despite better than expected Q3

Fund Strategy - 7 Nov 2011

The British economy enjoyed better than expected growth in the third quarter of 2011, figures published last week showed. However, Britain has a 70% chance of going back into recession unless the eurozone crisis is resolved, according to one thinktank.
FSA refuses to back down on RDR delay

5 Nov 2011

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has again refused to delay the implementation of the retail distribution review (RDR).
Early euro optimism boosts risk inflows

4 Nov 2011

The initial optimism caused by the international community’s bailout for Greece saw investors regain some of their lost risk appetite, EPFR Global suggests.
Corzine resigns as MF Global boss

4 Nov 2011

Jon Corzine has stepped down as the head of MF Global after the broker-dealer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this week.
OBSR cuts Pimco fund rating

4 Nov 2011

Old Broad Street Research (OBSR) has downgraded the Pimco GIS High Yield Bond fund.
Mixed results cloud US employment situation

4 Nov 2011

The US economy created fewer jobs than expected last month, the latest official figures reveal.
EU heads remind US and China of global imbalances

4 Nov 2011

The heads of the European Commission and the European Council have stressed that the region is not the world’s only source of economic woe.
Commerzbank posts loss on Greek write-down

4 Nov 2011

Commerzbank, Germany’s second largest bank, has booked a third-quarter loss on more write-downs of its Greek debt.
Falling eurozone activity ‘hints at another ECB cut’

4 Nov 2011

The eurozone’s downturn progressed at a “worrying pace” at the start of the fourth quarter, according to the latest purchasing managers’ index (PMI).
Thesis unit trusts added to Ascentric

3 Nov 2011

Five of Thesis Asset Management Optima six unit trusts have been added to the Ascentric wrap platform.
Greek euro referendum scrapped

3 Nov 2011

The Greek government has scrapped plans to hold a referendum on the country’s bailout and membership of the eurozone.
Fed slashes growth forecast as Bernanke hints at more stimulus

3 Nov 2011

The Federal Reserve has cut its US growth forecasts for the coming years but neglected to make any immediate changes to the country’s monetary policy.
Artemis UK Special Situations favourites beat expectations

3 Nov 2011

Unilever, BT and Tate & Lyle - all top-ten holdings in Derek Stuart’s £1 billion Artemis UK Special Situations fund - have posted better-than-expected results in their latest financial reports.
Income pick Glaxo agrees $3 billion investigation settlement

3 Nov 2011

Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), a stock favoured by a number of income managers, has agreed to a multi-billion dollar settlement over investigations into its marketing.
UK economy has 50/50 recession risk, says Niesr

3 Nov 2011

There is a 50% chance that the UK economy will return to recession before 2013, according to the latest forecast by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (Niesr).
Greek referendum may vote on euro exit, reports claim

2 Nov 2011

Greece’s surprise referendum is likely to question the country’s future in the European Union (EU) and the eurozone rather than the international community’s bailout package, according to reports.
Polar launches North American fund for Holliman

2 Nov 2011

Polar Capital is launching a US equity fund for recently-appointed managers Andrew Holliman and Richard Wilson.
US data shows no great improvement to employment situation

2 Nov 2011

US companies continued to create new jobs last month while the number of firms planning to cut workers has fallen to its lowest level since the summer, the latest batch of economic data shows.
Evy Hambro pick Randgold sees Q3 profit jump

2 Nov 2011

Randgold Resources saw profits soar during the third quarter of the year, according to the gold miner’s latest financial results.
GLG Japan Core Alpha holding hit by ratings downgrade

2 Nov 2011

Consumer electronics group Panasonic, a top-ten stock of the £1 billion GLG Japan Core Alpha fund, has been downgraded by Standard & Poor’s on concerns over its financial strength.
Manufacturing weakness 'spreading to eurozone core'

2 Nov 2011

Conditions in the eurozone’s manufacturing sector have reached their lowest point since July 2009, according to a key economic indicator.
Threadneedle American buoyed by Pfizer performance

1 Nov 2011

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer - a favourite holding of Threadneedle’s Cormac Weldon - has posted better-than-expected quarterly results, helped by a weaker dollar.
Chatfeild-Roberts steps down from Jupiter Global Managed

1 Nov 2011

John Chatfeild-Roberts has stepped down as the manager of the £256m Jupiter Global Managed fund and will hand responsibility to Simon Somerville.
US markets fall on Greek referendum news

1 Nov 2011

US stockmarkets have tumbled on opening after the eurozone debt crisis deal was thrown in jeopardy by a planned Greek referendum.
Brazil fails to complete Bric manufacturing growth trend

1 Nov 2011

Brazil was the only member of the so-called Bric nations to see manufacturing activity contract last month, recent data shows.
Manufacturing slump magnifies recession fears

1 Nov 2011

Activity in the UK’s manufacturing sector has fallen to a 28-month low, exacerbating fears that the country is on the verge of another recession.
Italy a bigger threat to UK than Greece, FSA tells MPs

1 Nov 2011

The spiralling debt of Italy is a greater danger to the UK’s financial system than the much more publicised problems of Greece, senior members of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) have admitted.
Troy hires Gabrielle Boyle from NewSmith

1 Nov 2011

Gabrielle Boyle has been appointed as the manager of the £59m Trojan Capital fund.
Schroders drops European Alpha Plus fund marketing

1 Nov 2011

The £674.7m Schroder European Alpha Plus fund has been effectively soft-closed as the asset manager will not seek new investments into the portfolio.
Income darling Imperial Tobacco boosts dividend

1 Nov 2011

Imperial Tobacco, a common holding of many income funds, has increased its dividend on the back of higher profits over the past year.
UK GDP grows by 0.5% in Q3

1 Nov 2011

The Office for National Statistics has announced that the UK economy grew by 0.5% during the third quarter of 2011.
Man Group 'free from MF Global exposure'

31 Oct 2011

Man Group has asserted that it has no counterparty exposure to former subsidiary MF Global Holdings, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection today.
Bonuses do not drive excessive risk-taking, study claims

31 Oct 2011

New academic research has cast doubt on the belief that the financial service sector’s bonus culture encouraged greater levels of risk before the crisis.
ILO warns of deeper jobs recession

31 Oct 2011

The world is on the brink of a “new and deeper” jobs recession that will hamper economic recovery and may lead to greater social unrest, according to a United Nations agency.
Nimmo pick HomeServe hit by mis-selling fears

31 Oct 2011

Shares in HomeServe - a top holding of Standard Life’s Harry Nimmo - have tumbled after the company shut down its sales operation because of mis-selling worries.
Eurozone inflation stays above target

31 Oct 2011

Inflation is expected to remain at a three-year high in the eurozone while unemployment in the bloc has increased marginally, according to the latest official figures.
Japan intervenes to weaken yen

31 Oct 2011

The Japanese government has intervened in the currency market in a bid to stem the continued strengthening of the yen.
Can the Vatican see the good in finance?

28 Oct 2011

The past week saw the Catholic Church step into the debate about the financial regulation, something that, as a former altar boy, caught my attention.
Hawksmoor added to Ascentric platform

28 Oct 2011

Hawksmoor Investment Management has been added to the discretionary fund managers available on the Ascentric platform.
Tulloch pick Samsung beats Apple in smartphone sales

28 Oct 2011

Samsung Electronics, a favourite stock of First State’s Angus Tulloch and Fidelity’s Allan Liu, has overtaken Apple to become the world’s biggest smartphone seller.
Exxon profit stays above $10 billion

27 Oct 2011

Exxon Mobil’s profit has exceeded $10 billion (£6.25 billion) for the third quarter running, according to its latest results.
US economy grows 2.5% in third quarter

27 Oct 2011

US GDP grew by an annualised 2.5% during the third quarter of the year, according to the latest official figures.
Santander on track to meet new capital requirements

27 Oct 2011

Spanish bank Santander says it will be able to meet new European capital requirements without carrying out a capital increase or lowering its dividend.
BoJ adds ¥5 trillion to asset purchase programme

27 Oct 2011

Japan’s asset purchase programme has been boosted by ¥5 trillion (£41 billion) in a bid to stimulate growth in the world’s third largest economy.
Woodford’s top holding hit by revenue fall

27 Oct 2011

AstraZeneca, the top holding of Invesco Perpetual Income’s Neil Woodford, saw revenues decline over the third quarter of the year.
Woodford stalwarts post revenue growth

26 Oct 2011

Two of the favourite holdings of Invesco Perpetual’s Neil Woodford have reported increased revenue in their latest results.
Headline TBC - Gary3

26 Oct 2011

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
European regulation needs more UK input, says BDO

26 Oct 2011

The UK needs to exert more influence on the European stage to reduce the chances of the country suffering from adverse financial regulation, BDO’s Tim Kirk argues.
In pictures: Lees names five blue chips you should know

26 Oct 2011

Peter Lees at F&C Investments has some strong views on UK blue chips such as Tesco and BP, as the following slideshow reveals.
Tech fund favourite Amazon in profit warning

26 Oct 2011

Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer and a popular holding with investors, has seen profits fall by 73% and warns it could make a loss in the fourth quarter.
Invista Foundation Property Trust completes West Brom deal

26 Oct 2011

The £128.1m Invista Foundation Property Trust has bought the BT building in West Bromwich for £14.86m.
Rathbone’s Chillingworth eyes utilities cut

26 Oct 2011

Julian Chillingworth is mulling a reduction in the Rathbone Blue Chip Income & Growth fund’s exposure to utilities as he seeks to take profit from good performers.
Markets tank as Ecofin meeting pulled

25 Oct 2011

Markets have tumbled after reports emerged that tomorrow’s critical meeting of finance ministers has been cancelled ahead of the eurozone summit.
Greek default ‘is not a painless option’, warns Capital Economics

25 Oct 2011

Greek default would be less painful than the collapse of Lehmans in the short term although the effects could be far more wide-reaching in the long run, according to Capital Economics.
Current account deficit falls to £2 billion

25 Oct 2011

The UK’s current account deficit narrowed over the course of the second quarter of the year, the latest official figures show.
King defends QE in front of Treasury select committee

25 Oct 2011

The Bank of England (BoE) expects its £75 billion of additional quantitative easing to have much the same effect as the previous £200 billion in the programme but cannot rule out a differing outcome.
Vatican loses faith in IMF

25 Oct 2011

The Vatican has joined those calling for better regulation of the world’s financial markets by suggesting the establishment of a “central world bank” and greater attention to ethics.
Dobell pick BP reports third-quarter profit rise

25 Oct 2011

Oil giant BP has seen third-quarter profits almost triple over the last year, according to its latest financial results.
US banks post mixed third quarter results

25 Oct 2011

American banks’ financial results last week showed mixed fortunes for the third quarter, with some gains driven by one-off accounting moves.
Henderson's Pattullo and Barnard cut high yield exposure

24 Oct 2011

The high yield allocation in the £1 billion Henderson Strategic Bond and the £561.1m Henderson Preference & Bond funds has been cut in recent months, despite both portfolios investing in a new issuance by Fresenius Medical Care.
Robbins to take over Premier Global Alpha Growth

24 Oct 2011

Jacob Robbins has been appointed as the lead manager of the £9.2m Premier Global Alpha Growth fund.
Hints of euro plan emerge from weekend summit

24 Oct 2011

European leaders have assured the world that a deal to solve the eurozone debt crisis will be put together by Wednesday, after they failed to finalise a plan yesterday.
Weak eurozone PMI bolsters recession fears

24 Oct 2011

Manufacturing and services activity is continuing to fall across the eurozone, the latest data suggests, adding to fears about the region’s growth.
Second renewable EIS fund launched by Future Capital

24 Oct 2011

Future Capital Partners has launched a second renewable energy enterprise investment scheme (EIS) fund after the closure of its first vehicle.
Eden plans aggressive version of cautious fund

Fund Strategy - 24 Oct 2011

?Mark Harris, a fund of funds manager at Eden Financial, aims to launch an aggressive version of his cautious CF Eden Global Multi-Strategy fund.
US banks post mixed results for Q3

Fund Strategy - 24 Oct 2011

American banks’ financial results last week showed mixed fortunes for the third quarter, with some gains driven by one-off accounting moves.
Euro elephant can’t be ignored, says Western Asset’s Walsh

21 Oct 2011

The “enormous elephant in the room” of the eurozone debt crisis is making Western Asset’s Stephen Walsh reluctant to bring more credit risk into his portfolios.
Russell rearranges fixed-income desks

21 Oct 2011

Russell Investments has unveiled a number of changes to its fixed-income team as the asset manager attempts to share global investment expertise across its offices.
L&G UK Property Trust buys three Tesco stores

21 Oct 2011

The £560.2m Legal & General UK Property Trust has completed an off-market deal with Tesco, buying three stores.
Microsoft profit joy for Fidelity American

21 Oct 2011

Technology giant Microsoft, a staple holding of several large funds, has reported record first quarter financial results, despite the weak consumer environment.
Mifid II not bold enough on commodity speculation, say campaigners

21 Oct 2011

European Commission proposals designed to smooth volatility in the commodities market are not strong enough to tackle the effects of excessive speculation, commentators argue.
Mifid II adds to OTC trading decline, says PwC

20 Oct 2011

The European Commission’s Market in Financial Instruments Directive (Mifid) II proposals may hasten the decline of OTC trading, a PricewaterhouseCoopers commentator argues.
Gold ETPs boost commodity inflows

20 Oct 2011

Global commodity exchange traded product (ETP) assets reached a new high during the third quarter of the year, driven almost entirely by the popularity of gold, according to the latest research.
Fidelity poaches Barclays' Bateman for MM team

20 Oct 2011

Fidelity Worldwide Investment has hired James Bateman from Barclays to join its multi-manager team.
Most consumers confused by investing, poll finds

20 Oct 2011

Almost three-quarters of people admit they are confused by investing, according to the latest research by Legal & General Investments.
Cosh replaces Anand on European Assets Trust

20 Oct 2011

Sam Cosh will take over the European Assets investment trust following the departure of current manager Paras Anand.
Ebay boost for Fidelity Global Special Sits

20 Oct 2011

Internet auction website eBay, a longstanding favourite of Fidelity’s Jorma Korhonen, has posted a 14% rise in third-quarter profits.
US cash funds still pulling away from European banks, Fitch shows

20 Oct 2011

US prime money market funds are continuing to slash their exposure to the European banking sector, the latest figures from Fitch Ratings reveal.
Morse favourite Nestlé lifts 2011 sales outlook

20 Oct 2011

Food and nutrition company Nestlé has lifted its sales growth outlook for 2011 after reporting stronger than anticipated growth in the first nine months of the year.
The euro has failed, says F&C’s Lees

19 Oct 2011

Any deal announced in Europe in the coming days is unlikely to save the eurozone in its current form, the manager of the £196.4m F&C UK Alpha fund argues.
Financial stability equal to monetary policy, says Bernanke

19 Oct 2011

Central banks should view financial stability as being just as important as monetary policy, the chairman of the US Federal Reserve suggested last night.
Odey pick BSkyB posts 16% profit jump

19 Oct 2011

British Sky Broadcasting Group (BSkyB), a favourite of investors such as Crispin Odey and Sanjeev Shah, has seen profits increase to £295m over the last quarter.
Argonaut adds to investment team

19 Oct 2011

Argonaut Capital Partners has continued its hiring programme with the appointment of Greg Bennett to the investment team.
Prime retail sites are key, say property managers

19 Oct 2011

The poor state of the UK’s high street does not mean all investment opportunities have dried up in the retail sector, property managers agree.
Santander snatches up HSBC’s Meghji

18 Oct 2011

Azim Meghji will take over the £977m Santander Sterling Corporate Bond fund after being appointed head of credit at the asset manager.
US bank results: Goldman sees third quarter loss, BofA returns to profit

18 Oct 2011

Goldman Sachs made a loss in the third quarter of the year while Bank of America (BofA) returned to profit due to one-off gains, according to the latest batch of banking results.
Inflation hike 'puts Bank credibility in danger'

18 Oct 2011

Today’s record inflation figures heighten the risk of the Bank of England (BoE) losing credibility as it embarks on further quantitative easing, according to some members of the asset management world.
Weldon favourite Apple wins HTC case

18 Oct 2011

HTC has failed to win a critical victory in its legal battle with technology giant Apple, a favourite with investors such as Threadneedle’s Cormac Weldon.
Euro crisis has passed a turning point, says BlackRock’s Doll

18 Oct 2011

European leaders’ efforts to strengthen the banking sector mark an important stage in the debt crisis’ resolution, according to Bob Doll, chief equity strategist for fundamental equities at BlackRock.
China's bank move mollifies but experts doubt stimulus

18 Oct 2011

China’s move to prop up the share price of its four biggest banks was initially well received by the market last week, but commentators are divided over how likely a repeat of 2008’s stimulus will be.
Buxton pick Xstrata falls on South African strike

17 Oct 2011

Global miner Xstrata, a top holding in Richard Buxton’s Schroder UK Alpha Plus fund, has seen its South African operations disrupted by a strike.
Equities show value in recent “glimmers of light”, says ML’s O'Neill

17 Oct 2011

Signs of improvement in the US and some other major economies continue to make equities seem good value, according to Merrill Lynch’s Bill O’Neill, although this sentiment does not extend to the eurozone.
Merkel spokesman cautions on 'dream' of ending crisis

17 Oct 2011

The spokesman of German chancellor Angela Merkel has warned the markets about ’dreaming’ of an early resolution to the eurozone debt crisis.
Ernst & Young cuts UK growth outlook

17 Oct 2011

Ernst & Young has warned that the UK economy has stalled at a “dangerous junction” and downgraded the country’s growth prospects.
Threadneedle unveils US Contrarian Core Equities Sicav

17 Oct 2011

Threadneedle has added a version of Guy Pope’s US Contrarian Core Equities fund to its Sicav range.
Huijin move mollifies, but experts doubt stimulus likely

Fund Strategy - 17 Oct 2011

China’s move to prop up the share price of its four biggest banks was initially well received by the market last week, but commentators are divided over how likely a repeat of 2008’s stimulus will be.
CBI's Cridland rails at EU financial regulation

14 Oct 2011

UK growth is being placed at risk by “unwarranted, heavy-handed” financial regulation coming out of Europe, according to the director-general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
New chief for HSBC Global Asset Management

14 Oct 2011

Sridhar Chandrasekharan has been named as chief executive of HSBC Global Asset Management after incumbent John Flint was appointed to a new role within the banking group.
Edinburgh Dragon presses on with Satyam legal action

14 Oct 2011

The £526.3m Edinburgh Dragon trust is continuing with legal action to recover losses caused by the 2009 Satyam scandal despite several US investors settling with the Indian company.
Edinburgh Dragon outperforms despite Korea underweight

14 Oct 2011

The £526.3m Edinburgh Dragon trust will remain underweight in Korea, despite this position being the strongest detractor of performance over the past year.
City resources trust benefits from gold’s haven status

14 Oct 2011

The popularity of gold amid the current economic stress has helped the £273.4m City Natural Resources High Yield trust to significantly outperform its benchmark over the last quarter.
S&P downgrades Spain to AA-

14 Oct 2011

Spain’s long-term credit rating has been cut by Standard & Poor’s (S&P) due to low growth and high public debt.
Repeating QE will not restore growth, warns Cazenove’s Jeffrey

13 Oct 2011

The Bank of England’s decision to simply pump an additional £75 billion into the economy is unlikely to solve the underlying problems holding back growth, Cazenove’s Richard Jeffrey argues.
Improved trade deficit raises growth hopes

13 Oct 2011

The UK’s trade deficit narrowed to £1.9 billion in August, the latest official figures reveal, which may improve the country’s growth prospects for the third quarter.
Rabobank discusses lowering Sarasin holding

13 Oct 2011

Dutch Rabobank is talking about cutting its holding of Bank Sarasin with “interested parties”, it has been confirmed.
IMF lowers Asian growth outlook

13 Oct 2011

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cut its growth forecast for Asia amid concerns over the health of the eurozone and the US.
Emerging markets starting to stall, HSBC research says

12 Oct 2011

Growth in emerging markets has started to stall as the troubles in the global economy weigh on world trade, the latest research from HSBC suggests.
The markets smell blood over crisis, says Premier’s Jennings

12 Oct 2011

Policymakers’ inability to stem the eurozone debt crisis in a timely fashion means the markets are “smelling blood”, according to Premier Asset Management’s chief investment officer.
Buxton favourite sees strong revenue growth

12 Oct 2011

Burberry Group, a top holding of Richard Buxton’s Schroder UK Alpha Plus fund, has reported strong revenue growth over the last six months.
Pimco completes emerging markets equity team

12 Oct 2011

Pimco has hired five investment professionals for its emerging markets equity team in London, New York and Singapore.
The not quite 300 Club

11 Oct 2011

A group of 10 CIOs have banded together to campaign for change in the asset management world, calling themselves the 300. But do they fit the Spartan mould?
Synthetic ETFs may have to drop Ucits label, says Trichet

11 Oct 2011

Jean-Claude Trichet has reiterated calls for the Ucits label to be pulled from complex products such as synthetic exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Spartans march to battle “dangerous” market behaviour

11 Oct 2011

Ten chief investment officers and other industry names have banded together to campaign for change in the asset management world.
UK Equity Income sees popularity jump, says Cofunds

11 Oct 2011

Neil Woodford’s Invesco Perpetual High Income fund led last month’s “surprise” jump in UK Equity Income sector net sales, the latest data from Cofunds reveals.
Martin Currie names new general counsel

11 Oct 2011

Martin Currie has hired former solicitor Jeremy Hill to fill its newly-created general counsel role.
Businesses ‘worried about UK stagnation’

11 Oct 2011

UK businesses are growing increasingly concerned about stagnation in the country’s economy, according to research by the British Chambers of Commerce.
EU summit delayed by one week

10 Oct 2011

Next Monday’s summit of European Union (EU) leaders has been delayed by a week while a deal for Greece is worked on by the international community.
Barroso and Van Rompuy call for IMF resourcing debate

10 Oct 2011

Whether the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has sufficient firepower to deal with the ongoing debt crisis needs to be discussed by the G20, according to European leaders.
Simpson to run Baring Latin American fund

10 Oct 2011

Michael Simpson has been recruited by Baring Asset Management as its new head of Latin American equities.
iShares bolsters sales team with two hires

10 Oct 2011

BlackRock’s exchange traded funds platform iShares has made two senior appointments to its sales team.
Cofunds hires Andy Coleman from Axa Wealth

10 Oct 2011

Andy Coleman will join Cofunds as the platform’s head of sales at the start of next year.
Pantheon adds to London and New York teams

10 Oct 2011

Private equity investor Pantheon has hired two senior executives for its product development and client services teams based in the UK and the US.
Fitch downgrades Italy and Spain

10 Oct 2011

Credit ratings agency Fitch has downgraded the government debt of Italy and Spain due to the “intensification” of the eurozone sovereign debt crisis.
Dexia accepts €90 billion state guarantee deal

10 Oct 2011

France, Belgium and Luxembourg have agreed a deal to split and shore up beleaguered bank Dexia with €90 billion in state guarantees.
Downgrades follow £75bn injection

Fund Strategy - 10 Oct 2011

The Bank of England’s decision to expand quantitative easing (QE) by an additional £75 billion last week offered a liquidity buffer to British banks, just before 12 of them were downgraded by a leading ratings agency.
‘Recession Clock’ closer to striking, says EPFR Global

7 Oct 2011

Investor behaviour at the start of the fourth quarter suggests that recession is considered to be just around the corner, according to EPFR Global.
Allegation-hit Chinese firm sees rating cut

7 Oct 2011

Chaoda Modern Agriculture, a firm recently targeted by ‘whistleblowing’ short-sellers, has been downgraded by Moody’s Investors Service, adding to the debate over Chinese corporate governance.
Consumption failing to boost growth, OECD figures suggest

7 Oct 2011

The contribution that private consumption is making to growth in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) area continues to fall, the latest data shows.
KPMG hires Alfi’s Muller

7 Oct 2011

Charles Muller has joined professional services provider KPMG from Alfi, the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry.
Soros fails to quash insider trading conviction

7 Oct 2011

Hedge fund billionaire George Soros has lost his case to have a criminal conviction for insider dealing quashed.
Moody’s cuts ratings of 12 UK banks

7 Oct 2011

Moody’s has downgraded the senior debt and deposit ratings of 12 UK financial institutions after reviewing the level of support the authorities appear willing to give them.
Commodity trading ‘has little effect on food prices’, says DWS’ Meinhold

7 Oct 2011

The recent volatility in food prices has little to do with speculative activity in soft commodities, one DWS Investments senior product specialist argues.
QE boost reaction

6 Oct 2011

Earlier today, the Bank of England declared that its quantitative easing (QE) programme will be expanded by another £75 billion over the coming four months.
Insynergy Odey fund adds to BskyB

6 Oct 2011

Crispin Odey has been building up the Insynergy Odey fund’s position in BskyB in expectation of strong cash flow growth in the future.
Bank increases QE by £75 billion

6 Oct 2011

The Bank of England has expanded its quantitative easing (QE) programme by an additional £75 billion as the UK’s growth prospects show signs of worsening.
Invesco's Greenwood issues bleak economic outlook

6 Oct 2011

The outlook for the US, the eurozone, the UK and even emerging markets has grown increasingly bleak over recent months, Invesco Perpetual’s chief economist says.
EU productivity falls for first time in 29 months

6 Oct 2011

Productivity in the European Union (EU) has fallen for the first time in almost two-and-a-half years, according to the latest data from Markit.
IMF backs Operation Twist amid warning on US fiscal policy

6 Oct 2011

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) lends its support to the Federal Reserve’s Operation Twist, but cautions that US fiscal policy needs to be “carefully calibrated”.
Eurozone reform needed to avert French crisis, says DWS economist

5 Oct 2011

France has the potential to become a Greece-like problem for the eurozone if the bloc does not commit to reform in the coming years, according to DWS Investments’ chief economist.
Private equity commitments fall 45% in third quarter

4 Oct 2011

Global private equity fundraising has fallen by 45% over the last quarter, the latest figures from Preqin shows.
UK executives expect another recession, CMI finds

4 Oct 2011

The UK’s senior executives increasingly believe that the country is heading back towards recession, according to a survey of 616 business leaders.
Melchior European fund closes at $100m

4 Oct 2011

The Melchior European fund has been hard-closed after a “period of strong inflows”, its directors have revealed.
Rogue trading sparks ETF reviews

4 Oct 2011

Buyers and sellers of exchange traded funds (ETFs), the popular investment involved in the supposed $2 billion (£1.3 billion) fraud at UBS, said last week the industry should do more to counter unexpected losses, which could include fraud.
Gold miners offer good value, says LSR’s Skene

3 Oct 2011

Gold mining stocks are trading at attractive valuations despite investors’ search for safe havens that are driving up the price of the metal, one of Lombard Street Research’s (LSR’s) consultant economists says.
S&P affirms UK rating but warns on growth

3 Oct 2011

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has affirmed the UK’s top credit rating but warned that the government’s recovery plan is “optimistic”.
Standard Life property trust buys Crawley offices

3 Oct 2011

The Standard Life Investment Property Income Trust is “virtually fully invested” after buying a new holding.
BCC calls for more QE and “radical methods”

3 Oct 2011

The Bank of England needs to launch further quantitative easing as well use “radical methods” to bolster growth, one of the country’s leading business groups argues.
Fitch slashes global growth forecasts

3 Oct 2011

Fitch Ratings has cut its growth forecasts for the global economy, although the agency does not believe a double-dip recession is likely.
Asset managers becoming less optimistic, poll finds

3 Oct 2011

Optimism about the business climate facing asset managers has declined for the first time since March 2009, according to the Confederation of British Industry and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
HSBC confirms low-cost range launch this month

3 Oct 2011

HSBC Global Asset Management has offered further details of its new low-cost portfolios.
JOHCM launches two Asia ex Japan funds

3 Oct 2011

JO Hambro Capital Management (JOHCM) has launched two funds targeting stocks in the Asia ex Japan space.
FTSE falls below 5,000

3 Oct 2011

The FTSE 100 dipped below the much-eyed 5,000 mark in early trading, as markets reacted to news that Greece is likely to miss critical deficit-reduction targets.
Greece to miss deficit targets

3 Oct 2011

The Greek government has confirmed its deficit will exceed the target set by the IMF and EU.
IMA Absolute sector hit by largest exodus

Fund Strategy - 3 Oct 2011

Funds in the Investment Management Association (IMA) Absolute Return sector have been hit with their largest monthly outflow since the sector was formed three years ago, which one fund of funds manager attributes to a lack of clarity over the products.
Rogue trading sparks ETF reviews

Fund Strategy - 3 Oct 2011

Buyers and sellers of exchange traded funds (ETFs), the popular investment involved in the supposed $2 billion (£1.3 billion) fraud at UBS, said last week the industry should do more to counter unexpected losses, which could include fraud.
Fitch warns on ‘whistleblowing’ short-sellers

30 Sep 2011

The negative effects of ‘whistleblowing’ by short-sellers of Chinese companies are likely to ultimately overshadow any positives in corporate governance, according to Fitch Ratings.
British Assets trust ups management fee

30 Sep 2011

The £336.2m British Assets trust is to make changes to its management fee arrangements and benchmark from tomorrow.
Eurozone inflation hits 3%

30 Sep 2011

Inflation in the eurozone has jumped to a 35-month high, increasing the likelihood that the European Central Bank (ECB) will delay further interest rate cuts.
AIC calls for VCT investment cap scrap

30 Sep 2011

The government should remove the annual investment limit applied to venture capital trusts (VCTs), the Association of Investment Companies (AIC) says.
Japan to add ¥15 trillion to intervention fund

30 Sep 2011

Japan will increase the money available to intervene in currency markets, while the government warns it will move against speculative action on the yen.
Global economy faces deleveraging, says Newton's Harries

30 Sep 2011

Deleveraging by the world’s governments, China’s growing influence and consolidation in the banking sector are three emerging risks to the global economy, according to Newton Investment Management.
US second quarter GDP growth revised up

29 Sep 2011

The US economy grew by 1.3% during the second quarter of the year, according to the final revision by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
August sees record outflows from absolute return

29 Sep 2011

Absolute return funds have witnessed their largest outflows for the last three years, the latest Investment Management Association (IMA) figures show.
Mirabaud poaches from Neptune and Skandia

29 Sep 2011

Mirabaud Asset Management has poached Paul Boughton from Neptune Investment Management and Andrew Blair from Skandia Investment Group for its London team.
Schroders appoints Hall as head of multi-manager

29 Sep 2011

Rob Hall has been appointed as the new head of multi-manager at Schroders after joining the asset manager in March this year.
Gam unveils emerging Asia fund for Michael Lai

29 Sep 2011

Asset manager Gam has launched a new fund targeting “overlooked” ASEAN markets such as Malaysia and Indonesia.
Greek default ‘is unavoidable’, says Ernst & Young

29 Sep 2011

A default by the Greek government has become “unavoidable”, according to a new report by a leading business services firm.
Harries and Stick 'doubt policy responses are enough'

28 Sep 2011

Fund managers at the Cofunds Economic Forum have cast doubt on the ability of governments and central banks to effectively address the problems piling up for the global economy.
China can’t rescue West, says Martin Currie

28 Sep 2011

China will not ride to the rescue of the western world as it will prioritise solving its own problems, according to the manager of the £35m Martin Currie China fund.
Fidelity managers reveal Chinese consumer picks

28 Sep 2011

The Chinese consumer and the country’s swelling middle class were common themes among managers revealing their top Asian stock picks at yesterday’s Fidelity Investment Conference.
Bolton lauds Chinese corporate governance despite past hits

28 Sep 2011

Fidelity International’s Anthony Bolton stands by his conviction that China’s corporate governance standards are improving, in spite his past experiences of investing in firms accused of fraud.
Asia lacks credible financial system, claims Liu

27 Sep 2011

Most Asian countries lack a fully credible financial system and have to rectify this if they are to become more attractive to investors, the Fidelity manager Allan Liu says.
TCF Investment repeats cost as performance predictor research

27 Sep 2011

New research by TCF Investment has apparently added further weight to its argument that cost is a reliable predictor of performance.
IMF cuts emerging market forecasts

27 Sep 2011

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cut its global growth forecast to 4% for this year and next, with advanced economies expected to see the lowest expansion in output.
Aima slams Esma's 'third country' proposals

26 Sep 2011

European Union (EU) investors could be prevented from accessing funds registered outside of the union by new proposals for the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive, according to one trade body.
Dividend stocks preferable to Treasuries, argues economist

26 Sep 2011

Investing firms with good dividend histories could be a preferable alternative to risking the deflation of the bond bubble, according to Lombard Street Research.
MPC’s Broadbent ‘hints at more quantitative easing’

26 Sep 2011

Ben Broadbent’s latest speech supports the view that the Bank of England may soon embark on a second round of quantitative easing, according to IHS Global Insight.
Fixed income managers split on financials, says S&P

26 Sep 2011

Fixed income fund managers are divided on the outlook for the UK and European financial sectors, according to research by Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Fund Services.
Eden Financial announces sales head hire

26 Sep 2011

Eden Financial has continued its hiring spree with the appointment of a new head of its sales team.
F&C fund loss 'limited to a tiny share class'

26 Sep 2011

Losses on F&C Asset Management’s Money Markets fund are limited to a tiny single share class and are unconnected to its portfolio, despite investors’ fears for the sector, the firm said last week.
Lagarde highlights IMF funding worries

26 Sep 2011

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) lacks the financial firepower needed to support all the countries embroiled in the debt crisis, the Washington-based lender’s head suggests.
Aberdeen sees assets fall but eyes strong profits

26 Sep 2011

The amount of money run by Aberdeen Asset Management dropped by £8.1 billion in the two months to the end of August, the latest figures show.
Asian giant ‘structurally unattractive’

Fund Strategy - 26 Sep 2011

China does not have the ability to come to the rescue of the western economies, according to the head of Asian equities at Schroders.
F&C fund loss 'limited to a tiny share class'

Fund Strategy - 26 Sep 2011

Losses on F&C Asset Management’s Money Markets fund are limited to a tiny single share class and are unconnected to its portfolio, despite investors’ fears for the sector, the firm said last week.
IMF cuts emerging market forecasts

Fund Strategy - 26 Sep 2011

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cut its global growth forecast to 4% for this year and next, with advanced economies expected to see the lowest expansion in output.
M&G closes European Special Situations fund

23 Sep 2011

The M&G European Special Situations fund has been closed due to its small size three years after launch.
US cash funds moving from European banks

23 Sep 2011

US prime money market funds are cutting their exposure to the European banking sector and allocating to other regions, according to research by Fitch Ratings.
Caledonia, New Star and Utilico ‘disappoint’ Cayenne Trust

23 Sep 2011

The £68.1m Cayenne Trust has highlighted the holdings which contributed in large part to the fall in its share price total return over the six months to July 31.
Manager argues for end of ‘emerging markets’ label

22 Sep 2011

It is time for the investment world to leave behind the term ‘emerging markets’, according to a white paper by Standish Mellon Asset Management Company.
F&C UK Property managers 'avoiding London for now'

22 Sep 2011

The £33m F&C UK Property fund will not chase any holdings in London until evidence of a better risk/return balance emerges, its managers say.
Chinese growth model 'is over', argues Lombard Street economist

22 Sep 2011

The Chinese authorities are likely to once again respond in a slow and inappropriate manner to the country’s increasingly inflationary environment, according to Lombard Street Research.
Rathbone Strategic Bond managers discuss opening portfolio

22 Sep 2011

The managers of the forthcoming Rathbone Strategic Bond fund have given further details of the new product’s opening portfolio.
Rathbones unveils strategic bond fund for Jones

22 Sep 2011

Rathbones has launched a strategic bond fund, which can also invest in collectives for Bryn Jones, fixed income director.
IMF warns on growing financial stability risks

21 Sep 2011

Risks to global financial stability have increased for the first time since October 2008, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) says in its latest report.
Greece to leave euro in 2012, says Lombard Street’s Dumas

21 Sep 2011

Greece will be evicted from the euro within the next 15 months with other Mediterranean states likely to follow afterwards, says Charles Dumas, Lombard Street Research’s chief economist.
Dunedin Income Growth trust eyes dividend change

21 Sep 2011

The board of the Dunedin Income Growth investment trust is considering changes to the structure of its dividend payments.
Manager reaction: Italy downgraded by Standard & Poor's

20 Sep 2011

The downgrade of Italy’s credit rating by one of the main ratings agencies is unlikely to have a dramatic effect on the market in the short term, a number of fund managers agree.
IMF cuts global growth forecast to 4%

20 Sep 2011

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lowered its global growth forecast for this year and the next and warned that recovery will be heavily imbalanced.
Cost is a top predictor of fund performance, says TCF Investment

20 Sep 2011

Total expense ratios (TERs) can be a “very strong predictor” of funds’ future investment performance, research by TCF Investment suggests.
M&G's Riddell casts doubt on emerging markets' haven status

20 Sep 2011

The concentration of emerging market debt holders could present a risk for developing economies, according to Mike Riddell, the manager of the M&G International Sovereign Bond fund.
Emerging market investment moving towards sustainability, poll suggests

20 Sep 2011

Environmental, social and corporate governance is becoming an increasingly important factor for fund managers investing in emerging markets, new research suggests.
De Blonay’s fund added to Share Centre buy-list

20 Sep 2011

Guy de Blonay’s Jupiter Financial Opportunities fund has won a place on the Share Centre’s Platinum 120 list of preferred funds.
F&C hires Diliana Deltcheva for emerging market debt team

19 Sep 2011

Diliana Deltcheva is to join the emerging market debt team at F&C Investments as a fund manager.
Man appoints new head of Asia equity

19 Sep 2011

Man Group has appointed David Mercurio as its head of Asia equity as it seeks to strengthen its investment management presence across the region.
Manager retains confidence in Asia

6 Sep 2011

Recent indications that manufacturing activity is easing in Asia has raised concerns over the health of global growth, but one Thames River fund manager highlights the strength remaining in the region.
Advisers welcome new classifications for Ucits

Fund Strategy - 5 Sep 2011

Morningstar’s decision to drop the term ’Absolute Return’ in its classification system for Ucits funds available in Europe and Asia was welcomed by advisers last week.
Manager retains confidence in Asia

Fund Strategy - 5 Sep 2011

Recent indications that manufacturing activity is easing in Asia has raised concerns over the health of global growth, but one Thames River fund manager highlights the strength remaining in the region.
New Fidelity fund to target 'nasty' stocks

Fund Strategy - 5 Sep 2011

Fidelity last week launched a fund focused on “cheap and disliked stocks”, which its manager says will avoid the short termism in the investment world.
US fails to bring down unemployment

Fund Strategy - 5 Sep 2011

The White House’s upbeat assessment of the American economy was thrown into doubt last week when it emerged that the country’s job growth stalled in August.
Fidelity launches European Dynamic Value fund

2 Sep 2011

Fidelity has launched a new fund to capitalise on the opportunities created by “cheap and disliked stocks” in Europe.
Greek review mission pauses unexpectedly

2 Sep 2011

The international community’s fifth review mission to Greece has been unexpectedly halted to allow the authorities to carry out further work on the country’s reform programme.
First State to soft-close five funds

2 Sep 2011

First State Investments will soft-close five specialist Asia Pacific and global emerging market funds to “protect the interests of existing investors”.
Bank set to struggle with inflation, says former MPC member

2 Sep 2011

The Bank of England’s reluctance to lift interest rates makes it unlikely that the official inflation target will be met for some time to come, according to a former Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) member.
F&C renames Global Growth fund

1 Sep 2011

The F&C Global Growth fund has been renamed following its adoption of a thematic approach earlier this year.
European Commission denies Belgium worries

1 Sep 2011

The European Commission (EC) has been forced to deny media reports that it will issue Belgium a formal warning.
Emerging East Asian bonds attracting foreign investors, says ADB

1 Sep 2011

Demand from foreign investors is helping to drive the continued expansion of emerging East Asian local currency bond markets, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) says.
UK and eurozone manufacturing contracts in August

1 Sep 2011

Manufacturing activity in the UK has fallen to a 26-month low, according to the latest purchasing managers’ indices (PMIs), while further contraction was seen in the eurozone.
BCC cuts UK growth forecast for third time

1 Sep 2011

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has lowered its UK growth forecast for the third time this year, but still warns against “unjustified gloom” over the country’s economic health.
Sanlam hires former Titan manager

31 Aug 2011

Barry Cowen has joined Sanlam Fund Solutions as part of its UK retail investment team.
British & American trust “not at all satisfied” with largest holding

31 Aug 2011

The British & American investment trust saw its net assets decrease in the first half of 2011, driven by a fall in the value of its largest holding.
Fed has no useful tools left, say FOMC officials

31 Aug 2011

Some Federal Reserve policymakers believe the central bank has no more options open at the moment to spark sustainable growth in the US.
US employment figures fail to impress

31 Aug 2011

Companies in the US took on fewer workers than expected during August, according to the latest ADP National Employment Report.
Argonaut appoints Edward James as chief operating officer

31 Aug 2011

Argonaut Capital Partners has appointed Edward James as its new chief operating officer as the firm begins to restructure its joint venture with Ignis Asset Management.
Managers keep faith as Apple falls

31 Aug 2011

The news that Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, will step down as chief executive caused the company’s stock to fall last week, but fund managers remain optimistic on the technology giant.
North America leads investor confidence falls, research finds

30 Aug 2011

Investor confidence decreased across the globe during August, according to the latest State Street Investor Confidence Index.
Morningstar moves away from Abs Return in new classification system

30 Aug 2011

Morningstar has added 18 new alternative investment categories to its classification system for Ucits funds available in Europe and Asia.
Capital Economics highlights "impotent" monetary policy

30 Aug 2011

Monetary policy in the world’s developed countries is “looking increasingly impotent”, according to Capital Economics.
Barclays Wealth offers new Defined Returns Annual Kick-Out

30 Aug 2011

Barclays Wealth has launched a new edition of its Defined Returns Annual Kick-Out product in response to the market volatility of recent weeks.
US fiscal deflation fastest since WW2, says LSR’s Choyleva

30 Aug 2011

The US is about to embark on its fastest fiscal deflation since the Second World War if it follows through on current proposals, an economist from Lombard Street Research says.
Eurozone sees continued retail sales fall

30 Aug 2011

Retail sales across the eurozone declined at their fastest pace for ten months during August, the latest surveys by financial information provider Markit reveal.
Politicians ignored markets ahead of turbulence, says MEP

30 Aug 2011

A member of the European parliament claims holidaying politicians were surprised by recent turbulence in the markets, while the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called for greater unity to bolster economic recovery.
Bank shares rocket as Buffett buys stake

Fund Strategy - 29 Aug 2011

Warren Buffett, a billionaire investor, helped to bolster Bank of America (BofA) last week by taking a $5 billion (£3 billion) stake in the lender’s shares and options.
Managers keep faith as Apple falls

Fund Strategy - 29 Aug 2011

The news that Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, will step down as chief executive caused the company’s stock to fall last week, but fund managers remain optimistic on the technology giant.
Markets shake as Fed stalls stimulus

Fund Strategy - 29 Aug 2011

Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, failed to announce further economic stimulus during his speech at the Jackson Hole central bankers’ summit last week, but left it open to speculation that fresh measures will be unveiled in September.
Cazenove UK Smaller Companies goes on Wealth 150

26 Aug 2011

The Cazenove UK Smaller Companies fund has been added to Hargreaves Lansdown’s Wealth 150 owing to the “impressive stockpicking ability” of manager Paul Marriage.
US revises down second quarter growth

26 Aug 2011

The US economy grew by less than previously estimated in the second quarter of 2011, according to the latest revision by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Abs return and flexible funds failed to perform in turmoil, says Fitch

26 Aug 2011

Some European absolute return (AR) and multi-asset flexible funds failed their “clearest test since the Lehman fallout” during the recent market turmoil, according to Fitch Ratings.
ONS maintains Q2 UK GDP growth at 0.2%

26 Aug 2011

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has left its second quarter GDP estimate unrevised at 0.2%.
Sino-US rebalancing ‘taking place through the back door’

26 Aug 2011

The US appears to have successfully started to rebalance the dollar against the renminbi “through the back door”, an economist from Lombard Street Research argues.
Corporate credit ratings drift ‘loses momentum in Q2’

26 Aug 2011

The momentum in the positive drift of global corporate credit ratings showed signs of easing in the second quarter of the year, according to Fitch Ratings.
Verizon dispute pushes up US unemployment claims

25 Aug 2011

The number of Americans making their first claim for unemployment benefits rose again last week, according to the latest official figures, boosted by an industrial dispute.
Buffett buys $5 billion Bank of America stake

25 Aug 2011

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett will take a $5 billion (£3 billion) stake in Bank of America (BofA), as the lender deals with costs linked to subprime mortgages.
Retail sales decline speeds up in August, CBI finds

25 Aug 2011

The decline in the UK’s high street sales accelerated at its fastest rate in more than a year during August, the latest figures from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) reveal.
US double-dip ‘would cut global growth by two percentage points’

25 Aug 2011

A double-dip recession in the US would knock more than two percentage points off global GDP over the next three years, according to research by Fitch Ratings.
BHP Billiton boss warns of decade-long recovery

25 Aug 2011

Problems such as poor growth and high debt levels are likely to hamper the global economy for at least the next 10 years, the head of the world’s largest mining company argues.
Indian corporate downgrades may increase, warns Fitch

25 Aug 2011

Credit ratings downgrades among Indian corporates could outpace upgrades in the second half of the year, one of the major ratings agencies claims.
Western problems continue to affect Asia, says TR Pacific chairman

25 Aug 2011

Asian stockmarkets are likely to be dominated by external influences until western leaders resolve their own problems, the chairman of the Henderson TR Pacific Investment Trust says.
CBO predicts subdued US growth but deficit success

24 Aug 2011

Inflation-adjusted GDP growth in the US will remain modest for a number of years but at a sufficient pace to help reduce the country’s budget deficit, according to the latest official estimate.
Global CDS liquidity hits record high

24 Aug 2011

Global credit default swap (CDS) liquidity has reached its highest level for at least the last five years owing to the eurozone debt crisis and worries over global growth, according to Fitch Solutions.
CPSS-IOSCO report calls for minimum derivatives reporting

24 Aug 2011

Banks will be required to report a minimum set of data on their derivatives trades from the end of 2012, under new plans from central bankers and market supervisors.
Fidelity UK Opportunities fund to change name

24 Aug 2011

The name of the £15m Fidelity UK Opportunities fund will be changed next month to better reflect its investment activities.
Moody’s cuts Japanese government’s rating

24 Aug 2011

Moody’s Investors Service has cut the Japanese government’s debt rating owing to concerns over the country’s borrowing and deficit levels.
Strauss-Kahn assault case dropped

24 Aug 2011

A New York judge has dismissed the sexual assault case against former International Monetary Fund (IMF) head Dominique Strauss-Kahn.
RAB Special Situations Company underperforms benchmark

23 Aug 2011

The RAB Special Situations Company was hit by “significant underperformance” in the first half of the year due to the anticipated underperformance of its underlying master fund.
Oriel identifies higher-yielding equity trusts

23 Aug 2011

About 25 equity-based investment trusts with market capitalisations of more than £30m deliver returns over the FTSE 100 and the FTSE All Share, Oriel Securities says.
China at little risk of hard landing, says HSBC economist

23 Aug 2011

The Chinese economy has little chance of experiencing a hard landing, according to analysis of the latest data.
Ignis confirms Argonaut venture restructuring

23 Aug 2011

Argonaut Capital Partners has confirmed the details of the restructuring of its joint venture with Ignis Asset Management, including that it will own 60% of the new structure.
Eurozone growth held at two-year low

23 Aug 2011

Growth in the eurozone remains at a two-year low as private sector output is at near-stagnation levels, according to the latest figures from financial information provider Markit.
'Safe haven' gold reaches new highs

23 Aug 2011

Gold increased to new highs in Asian trading overnight, as the markets continue to be dominated by the twin threat of the eurozone debt crisis and a slowing in the global economy.
Standard Life’s UK Smaller Companies taken from Wealth 150

22 Aug 2011

The Standard Life Investments UK Smaller Companies fund has been removed from Hargreaves Lansdown’s Wealth 150 list.
US activity rose slightly in July, says Chicago Fed

22 Aug 2011

US economic activity improved slightly in July, according to the latest report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
Jim Leggate to head Russell Investments’ Middle East team

22 Aug 2011

Russell Investments has appointed Jim Leggate as its managing director for the Middle East as part of its plans to expand in the region.
OECD growth slows in second quarter

22 Aug 2011

Economic growth in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) area has slowed for a fourth quarter running, the latest statistics show.
Charter European Trust seeks clarity on Midas investment

22 Aug 2011

A major shareholder in the £47.9m Charter European Trust has declined to meet with the company’s board to explain its intentions towards the fund.
UK hit by deteriorating household finances

22 Aug 2011

Household finances in the UK deteriorated at a faster pace that at the peak of the recession during August, according to the latest research.
Retail fund of funds sales hit record high

Fund Strategy - 22 Aug 2011

Funds of funds’ retail sales hit the highest levels on record during the first half of 2011, despite taking a dip in the second quarter, the Investment Management Association (IMA) says.
Swiss boost efforts to cool overheating franc

Fund Strategy - 22 Aug 2011

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) has increased its efforts to bring down the “massively overvalued” Swiss franc as market turmoil pushes up other safe assets, such as gold.
Weak data worsens market turmoil

Fund Strategy - 22 Aug 2011

America’s poor economic data exacerbated the continued turmoil in stockmarkets last week, but a strategist at one of Britain’s largest fund managers suggests the “unholy” situation in the eurozone is a more pressing concern.
Greek finance minister warns of worsening recession

19 Aug 2011

Greece’s economic growth could be worse than anticipated this year, the country’s finance minister has warned.
Fitch examines interest rate rise effect on corporates

19 Aug 2011

Companies based in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (Emea) would be relatively unscathed by a 200 basis point increase in interest rates, according to research by Fitch.
Invista trust appoints new manager and enters merger talks

19 Aug 2011

The Invista Foundation Property Trust has appointed Schroder Property Investment Management as the new manager of its portfolio and entered into merger talks with Picton Property Income.
July’s government net borrowing falls to £20m

19 Aug 2011

The UK government borrowed less than expected during July, the latest official figures reveal.
Markets and yields fall on double-dip fears

18 Aug 2011

Stockmarkets across the world have fallen again after fears over global economic growth, while the yield on US 10-year bonds has dipped to a record low on weak manufacturing data.
BoE may have to boost risk-taking in market, says Andrew Haldane

18 Aug 2011

Intervention from the Bank of England (BoE) may be needed to sooth the “psychological scars” which are draining risk appetite from markets, a member of the Monetary Policy Committee says.
US and Chinese cooperation vital to world stability, vice-presidents agree

18 Aug 2011

The US and China have a responsibility to work together to bolster global economic stability, the country’s vice-presidents have said.
Thames River’s Burdett highlights “consistent” fund yield falls

18 Aug 2011

Fund yields in some of the Investment Management Association’s (IMA) most popular sectors have consistently declined despite improving markets, argues Rob Burdett, the co-head of Thames River Multi-Capital.
Gold demand falls across second quarter, says World Gold Council

18 Aug 2011

Global gold demand fell during the second quarter of the year despite being regarded as a haven from the eurozone debt crisis and the US’ financial problems, according to the World Gold Council.
Thames River Credit Select changes investment policy

17 Aug 2011

The investment policy of the Thames River Credit Select fund has been amended to allow greater exposure to emerging markets.
UK Select trust moves to “attractive” mining stocks

17 Aug 2011

The £30m UK Select investment trust has scrapped small holdings in some defensive sectors to significantly increase its exposure to mining, according to its interim management report.
SNB in new moves to weaken Swiss franc

17 Aug 2011

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) has increased its efforts to bring down the “massively overvalued” Swiss franc.
IMA’s Saunders warns on financial transaction tax

17 Aug 2011

The head of the Investment Management Association (IMA) has criticised proposals from French and German leaders for a new financial transaction tax.
European investors eyeing emerging market growth, says Fitch

17 Aug 2011

European fixed income investors are becoming increasingly optimistic over emerging market growth but are less confident on the continent’s prospects, a poll by Fitch says.
European inflation fell in July, Eurostat says

17 Aug 2011

Annual inflation fell in both the eurozone and the European Union (EU) over the course of July, official data shows.
UK unemployment rises unexpectedly

17 Aug 2011

The UK has been hit by surprise increases in both unemployment and benefit claimants, the latest official figures reveal.
Fitch affirms US rating at AAA

16 Aug 2011

Fitch Ratings has affirmed the US’ credit rating at AAA and given the country a stable outlook.
Martin Currie Japan Alpha raises transportation and communications weighting

16 Aug 2011

The £53m Martin Currie Japan Alpha fund has increased its allocation to the transportation and communications sector because companies are recovering from the March 11 disasters faster than expected.
OECD's Gurría backs new Italian austerity package

16 Aug 2011

Angel Gurría, the secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), has given his support to the Italian government’s new fiscal plan.
Quantitative easing is a failed experiment, says Mid Wynd International chairman

16 Aug 2011

The developed world’s “extraordinary” quantitative easing has failed to achieve its goal of economic stimulus, according to the chairman of the Mid Wynd International investment trust.
Ajay Argal appointed Baring’s Indian equities head

16 Aug 2011

Baring Asset Management has appointed Ajay Argal as its head of Indian equities, to be based in the company’s Hong Kong office.
FTSE 100 "is one of the worst places to be invested", research shows

15 Aug 2011

Recent market turmoil has caused the FTSE 100 to become a “much more volatile” investment than other asset classes, according to FE Risk Scores.
Global slowdown threatens Japanese recovery, says LSR’s Taylor

15 Aug 2011

Japan’s economy may return to growth in the third quarter of the year although this could be held back by a slowdown on the global stage, according to an economist with Lombard Street Research.
Eurobonds needed to fix debt crisis, says Soros

15 Aug 2011

Europe needs a eurobond regime to solve its sovereign debt crisis, according to George Soros, a prominent investor. The success of such a scheme, however, relies on compromise from Germany.
Funds of funds’ sales hit record level

15 Aug 2011

Funds of funds’ retail sales reached record levels during the first half of the year, the latest figures from the Investment Management Association (IMA) show.
French downgrade rumour hits shares

15 Aug 2011

Markets worldwide suffered days of declines last week after investors focused on rumours that France could be the next country to see its AAA rating cut.
French downgrade rumour hits shares

Fund Strategy - 15 Aug 2011

Markets worldwide suffered days of declines last week after investors focused on rumours that France could be the next country to see its AAA rating cut.
Solid retail sales allay US recession worries

12 Aug 2011

Retail sales in the US have increased to a four-month high, alleviating fears that the world’s largest economy is on the brink of another recession.
Aima criticises short-selling ban

12 Aug 2011

The Alternative Investment Management Association (Aima) has criticised the temporary ban on short-selling put into place by four European countries.
Short-selling bans do not work, says IMA’s Saunders

12 Aug 2011

European regulators are wrong to place a temporary ban on short-selling certain stocks, the chief executive of the Investment Management Association (IMA) argues.
French economy fails to grow in second quarter

12 Aug 2011

French economic growth stagnated in the second quarter of the year, brought down by reduced household consumption.
Four EU countries to ban short-selling

12 Aug 2011

Four European Union (EU) member sates have banned short-selling of banking and other financial stocks after the markets were beset by rumours and volatility.
Morning in brief: European markets down, Trinity Mirror profits fall, Italy attacks tax dodgers

12 Aug 2011

Investors are awaiting the latest economic reports from the US, while the Washington Post looks at spending cuts.
US trade deficit widens to $53.1 billion

11 Aug 2011

The US trade deficit widened to its highest level in nearly three years during June, according to the Department of Commerce, caused by falling exports.
US unemployment claims show surprise fall

11 Aug 2011

The number of people making their first unemployment claim in the US fell unexpectedly last week, the latest official figures show.
Gold passes $1,800 mark

11 Aug 2011

Gold broke the $1,800 an ounce barrier for the first time in early trading this morning, but has since slipped below this record mark.
Fed rate promise will not restore growth, says Stiglitz

10 Aug 2011

The Federal Reserve’s recent pledge to keep interest rates at low levels will do little to bolster the country’s recovery, says Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Prize-winning economist.
BoE lowers UK growth forecast

10 Aug 2011

The Bank of England (BoE) has cut its UK growth forecast for 2011 to 1.5% from 1.8% forecasted in May.
GLG Japan CoreAlpha Equity fund passes $1.5 billion mark

10 Aug 2011

The Dublin-domiciled GLG Japan CoreAlpha Equity fund has attracted more than $1.5 billion (£920m) in investors’ money since its launch 18 months ago.
Fed to keep rates "exceptionally low" until 2013

10 Aug 2011

The US Federal Reserve has said it expects interest rates to remain “exceptionally low” over the course of next year and into 2013.
OBSR pulls T Bailey Growth fund rating

10 Aug 2011

The £172.8m T Bailey Growth fund has been removed from the Old Broad Street Research (OBSR) fund ratings service while its management team undergoes changes.
Moody’s reports falling high yield corporate defaults

8 Aug 2011

The global high yield corporate default rate fell to 1.9% in July, exceeding previous predictions from Moody’s Investors Services.
Gartmore European trust sells out of telecoms and utilities

8 Aug 2011

The £112.2m Gartmore European investment trust has sold its entire exposure to telecommunications and utilities because of increased regulation in the two sectors.
Atlantis appoints portfolio manager

8 Aug 2011

Asian equity specialist Atlantis Investment Management has appointed Sean Lenihan as a portfolio manager in its Tokyo office.
ECB hints at Italian and Spanish bond purchases

8 Aug 2011

The European Central Bank (ECB) says it will “actively implement” its bond-buying programme to tackle the eurozone debt crisis, heightening expectations it could begin purchasing Italian and Spanish government debt.
Bellows attacks S&P credibility over US downgrade

8 Aug 2011

Standard and Poor’s (S&P) committed a “basic math error of significant consequence” when it decided to downgrade the US last week, according to John Bellows, the US Treasury’s acting assistant secretary for economic policy.
Ignis’ Thomson predicts slow recovery and QE2 in spring

4 Aug 2011

The UK’s real GDP will not return to its 2008 peak for at least another 70 months, while a second round of quantitative easing is likely to start early next year, the chief market economist at Ignis Asset Management argues.
Markets fall on Barroso’s debt crisis warning

4 Aug 2011

Markets are falling after Jose Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Commission, warned that the sovereign debt crisis is spreading from the eurozone periphery to other member states.
Lagarde faces investigation over Tapie settlement

4 Aug 2011

Christine Lagarde, the new managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will be investigated over her role in a controversial arbitration deal.
Bric countries to drive global growth more than G7, PwC argues

4 Aug 2011

The Bric economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China will contribute more to global growth than the G7 over the next two years, says the latest research from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
OBSR downgrades ex-Bolton, McLean and Miller funds

4 Aug 2011

OBSR has downgraded a successor fund to Anthony Bolton’s Fidelity Special Situations, as well as funds run by Colin McLean, the managing director of SVM, and Bill Miller, the chairman of Legg Mason Capital Management.
Pimco’s El-Erian attacks US debt plan

3 Aug 2011

The “terribly unbalanced” plan to tackle the US’ growing debt has placed the country’s future economic growth in a precarious state, according to Mohamed El-Erian, the chief executive and co-chief investment officer of Pimco.
US unemployment figures start to sour

3 Aug 2011

Employment growth slowed in the US last month and planned job cuts grew to a 16-month high, the latest reports show.
US deal fails to address future problems, says Pimco’s Gross

3 Aug 2011

The agreement to lift the US’ borrowing limit has done little to solve the country’s “near-unfathomable” future liabilities, argues Bill Gross, a founder and co-chief investment officer of Pimco.
UK service sector strengthens in July

3 Aug 2011

Activity in the UK’s service sector improved at its strongest pace for four months during July, according to the latest figures, while the eurozone countries have lagged.
Greece needs to continue “vigorous” reforms, OECD urges

2 Aug 2011

Greece needs to continue with its “vigorous reform process” over the coming years to restore confidence in the markets, according to the latest report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Mining stocks undervalued, claims PwC

2 Aug 2011

Consistently inaccurate valuations of mining companies could make such stocks attractive to investors, the latest research by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) claims.
European high yield bond issues to tail off, Fitch predicts

2 Aug 2011

The issuance of European corporate high-yield bonds is likely to ease from its record highs during the second half of 2011, according to Fitch Ratings.
US faces recession, says M&G's Doyle

2 Aug 2011

The US is heading for recession despite the recent agreement on raising its debt ceiling to avoid default, Anthony Doyle, the head of investment specialists at M&G, argues.
Gilt yields drop to record low

2 Aug 2011

Yields on 10-year UK government bonds have fallen to record lows on the back of weak economic data, causing concern for investors.
US still at risk of losing AAA rating, experts say

2 Aug 2011

The US may face a downgrade by credit ratings agencies, despite the deal to raise the country’s borrowing limit, according to experts.
HSBC profits rise despite bank sector woes

1 Aug 2011

HSBC has announced a 29% rise in profits for the first half of the year, but it adds it will cut 25,000 jobs as woes continue elsewhere in the banking sector.
The market ‘is smoking crack’, says M&G’s Riddell

29 Jul 2011

Fixed income investors should be wary of automatically regarding emerging markets as safe havens, argues M&G’s Mike Riddell.
US growth disappoints at 1.3%

29 Jul 2011

The US economy grew by less than expected in the second quarter of the year, according to the first official estimate.
Bank upgrades surpass downgrades in second quarter, says Fitch

29 Jul 2011

The number of banks gaining ratings upgrades overtook those being downgraded during the second quarter of the year, according to a new paper by Fitch.
Threadneedle hires new US equity manager

29 Jul 2011

Threadneedle has appointed Diane Sobin and Nafis Chowdhury to its London-based US equities team and is likely make another appointment.
Investec’s Silberston highlights fixed income havens

29 Jul 2011

Fixed income investors are still able to find safe havens despite the much-publicised debt concerns playing out in the eurozone and the US, Investec’s Russell Silberston argues.
Spain on Moody’s downgrade review

29 Jul 2011

Moody’s Investors Service has placed Spain on review for a possible downgrade, citing the government’s funding pressure and challenges over fiscal consolidation.
US unemployment claims fall below 400,000

28 Jul 2011

The number of people making initial unemployment benefits claims in the US has fallen to its lowest level since April, official statistics show, which may suggest the country’s labour market is strengthening.
‘Confident’ Tigue ups Foreign & Colonial trust gearing

28 Jul 2011

The gearing of the Foreign & Colonial Investment Trust has been raised in reflection of increased confidence and expected cash from its private equity sub-portfolio.
JPM Multi Asset Income enters IMA Cautious Managed sector

28 Jul 2011

The £68m JPM Multi Asset Income fund has switched over to the IMA Cautious Managed sector to better reflect its current profile.
Japan sales rise bolsters recovery hopes

28 Jul 2011

Japanese retail sales increased unexpectedly during June, adding weight to the view the country is recovering from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
Coombs hints at Rathbone Enhanced Growth starting line-up

27 Jul 2011

David Coombs will launch the new Rathbone Enhanced Growth fund with almost three-quarters of the portfolio invested in equities and no exposure to fixed income.
Ben Pakenham to join Aberdeen from Henderson

27 Jul 2011

Ben Pakenham is to leave Henderson Global Investors to join the high yield bond team at Aberdeen Asset Management.
UK manufacturers losing optimism, says CBI

27 Jul 2011

Manufacturers’ optimism about the UK’s general business situation has fallen for the first time in two years, according to the latest research by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
Rathbone Brothers sees 30% profit rise

27 Jul 2011

Profits at Rathbone Brothers increased by 30.4% during the first half of 2011, according to the company’s half-yearly financial report.
Small dividend-payers ‘outperforming growth stocks’

26 Jul 2011

US dividend-paying smaller companies tend to outperform stocks focused solely on capital growth over the short and long terms, according to the latest research by Royce & Associates.
SPDR ETFs enters UK market with 11 products

26 Jul 2011

SPDR ETFs has listed 11 new products on the London Stock Exchange, as it enters the UK market with plans to unveil more funds in the coming years.
George Soros to retire from hedge fund business

26 Jul 2011

Billionaire investor George Soros has decided to retire after more than four decades in the hedge fund industry.
Plan to postpone review ‘juggernaut’ divides opinion

26 Jul 2011

A parliamentary committee’s call for the FSA to delay its reform of investment advice in the retail distribution review (RDR) has sparked a debate among asset managers and financial advisers.
India lifts interest rates to 8%

26 Jul 2011

India has raised its interest rates by more than anticipated as it continues its fight against inflation.
UK asset management risks losing competitive edge, IMA finds

25 Jul 2011

Fund managers are concerned the UK could be losing its competitive edge as an international hub for the asset management industry, according to the latest research.
FE launches new risk profiling tool

25 Jul 2011

Fund data and analysis provider FE has launched a new service to allow UK investors to determine the risk profile of a range of asset classes.
Aberdeen AUM grows to £185.8 billion

25 Jul 2011

The amount of money run by Aberdeen Asset Management increased by 2.5% over the last quarter, according to the firm’s latest interim management statement.
Moody's downgrades Greece to Ca

25 Jul 2011

Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded Greece by three notches, warning that the proposed bailout package would constitute a default.
Funds ditch eurozone for emerging markets

Fund Strategy - 25 July 2011

Fund managers are cutting their allocations to eurozone stocks and increasing holdings in all other regions as confidence in the global economy grows, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofA ML).
Plan to postpone review ‘juggernaut’ divides opinion

Fund Strategy - 25 July 2011

A parliamentary committee’s call for the FSA to delay its reform of investment advice in the retail distribution review (RDR) has sparked a debate among asset managers and financial advisers.
Fitch warns on Greek restricted default

22 Jul 2011

The “unified and coherent” action from European Union leaders in response to the Greek sovereign debt problem eases the pressure on ratings, according to the ratings agency Fitch. However, it says the risk of the country being classed as in default remains.
Debt crisis not over despite Greek plan, says Jupiter’s Bezalel

22 Jul 2011

The recently-agreed second bailout package for Greece fails to deal with the fundamental causes of the eurozone sovereign debt crisis, according to Jupiter’s Ariel Bezalel.
Premier Conservative Growth ‘favouring the unfavoured’

22 Jul 2011

The Premier Conservative Growth fund has spent its first year in the IMA Cautious Managed sector chasing opportunities overlooked by the majority of investors, according to one of its managers.
Henderson China Opportunities advances into consumer discretionary

22 Jul 2011

Charlie Awdry has raised the Henderson China Opportunities fund’s weighting to the consumer discretionary sector to capitalise on efforts to rebalance the world’s second largest economy.
Castlestone issues raid update

21 Jul 2011

Yesterday’s raids on Castlestone Management’s premises by the FSA have had no effect on the running of its Dublin or British Virgin Islands-domiciled funds, the firm has said.
IMF details Chinese financial liberalisation roadmap

21 Jul 2011

Currency appreciation, improved monetary management and better regulation are essential if China is to successfully liberalise its financial system, the IMF has concluded.
Morgan Stanley posts $558m loss

21 Jul 2011

Morgan Stanley made a loss in the second quarter of the year, despite net revenues growing by $1.3 billion (£810m).
Cazenove predicts “paltry” 0.9% UK GDP growth for 2011

21 Jul 2011

A fall in household spending is likely to cause the UK’s economic growth to come in below official estimates this year, according to Cazenove Capital’s Richard Jeffrey.
Investors growing pessimistic on Europe, BofA ML says

20 Jul 2011

European investors are displaying their strongest pessimism since the financial crisis because of sovereign debt fears, new research from Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofA ML) reveals.
Martin Currie Japan Alpha chasing manufacturing recovery

20 Jul 2011

The £53m Martin Currie Japan Alpha fund has increased its weighting to manufacturing to capitalise on the faster than anticipated recovery benefiting the industry.
Absolute Insight Emerging Market Debt fund to change mandate

19 Jul 2011

Insight Investment is planning a number of changes to its range, including a shift in the mandate of the Dublin-domiciled Absolute Insight Emerging Market Debt fund.
Franklin Templeton adds to tactical asset allocation team

19 Jul 2011

Franklin Templeton has strengthened its Multi-Asset Strategies global investment platform with the addition of five new investment professionals.
Securities Trust of Scotland to go global

19 Jul 2011

Alan Porter will run the £130.3m Securities Trust of Scotland investment trust after shareholders voted in favour of the fund taking a global equity-income mandate.
Bank of America posts $8.8 billion loss in second quarter

19 Jul 2011

Bank of America has posted its largest quarterly loss after finalising a multi-billion dollar settlement linked to sub-prime mortgages.
Financial services continues to pay highest bonuses

19 Jul 2011

Bonuses in the UK’s financial services sector remained below peak levels last year but still account for the bulk of payments made to the country’s workforce, the latest official data shows.
McKinsey gives asset management industry a health warning

18 Jul 2011

The asset management industry’s short-term performance appears to be at strong levels, according to a new report by McKinsey, but concerns are present about its long-term health.
Fitch warns on Chinese corporate governance

18 Jul 2011

Ratings agency Fitch has warned about the relatively weak corporate governance found in China, among a number of other problems that may prove worrying for investors.
Fed announces detail of 'normalisation' policy

Fund Strategy - 18 July 2011

Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, last week outlined how the quantitative easing programme will be unwound when it becomes necessary to normalise America’s monetary policy.
European industrials stronger than UK’s, argues Aberdeen manager

15 Jul 2011

The £240.2m Aberdeen European Equity fund is capitalising on the strong industrial companies found on the continent, although opportunities are less forthcoming on this side of the Channel for the £173.6m Aberdeen UK Equity fund.
Rathbone’s Jones sticking to strategy despite crisis

15 Jul 2011

Bryn Jones is considering making some changes to the £66.8m Rathbone Ethical Bond fund in response to turbulent economic conditions, but remains broadly determined to pursue his current strategy.
Jupiter Merlin Income Portfolio tops FundsNetwork’s June sales

15 Jul 2011

The Jupiter Merlin Income Portfolio fund was FundsNetwork’s bestselling product in June, while Cautious Managed topped the IMA sectors chart, according to new data.
S&P warns of US downgrade

15 Jul 2011

Another credit ratings agency has issued a warning that the US faces a downgrade unless its borrowing limit is raised in a timely manner.
Bolton takes loss from firms accused of fraud

14 Jul 2011

Anthony Bolton, the manager of the China Special Situations fund, has made a loss from investing in two US-listed Chinese firms hit with allegations of fraud.
F&C loses £7.8m put option case

14 Jul 2011

F&C has lost its High Court battle to stop two fund of hedge fund managers from exercising options to sell a stake in an F&C business for almost £8m.
Jupiter Merlin fund moves towards "anaemic" UK

14 Jul 2011

The £754m Jupiter Merlin Worldwide Portfolio fund has increased its weighting to the UK to adopt a more defensive stance, according to co-manager Peter Lawery.
US downgrade warning from two ratings agencies

14 Jul 2011

The US has been placed on review for a possible downgrade by two credit ratings agencies in as many days over fears about its debt problem.
Morning in brief: Gold at highs, Helaba stress test row, Italian austerity vote

14 Jul 2011

This morning’s news sees Moody’s reviewing the US for a possible downgrade - leading Asian markets to fall - and Helaba bickering with the European Banking Authority.
Fitch downgrades Greece to CCC

14 Jul 2011

Greece has been downgraded to CCC - just one notch above default - by Fitch Ratings.
Bernanke details QE exit strategy

13 Jul 2011

Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the US Federal Reserve, has outlined how the central bank will unwind its $600 billion (£375 billion) quantitative easing (QE) programme when necessary.
Len Brennan to head Russell Investments

13 Jul 2011

Len Brennan has succeeded Andrew Doman as the president and chief executive of Russell Investments.
Morning in brief: Asian markets rally, News Corp buyback, US debt

13 Jul 2011

The morning’s news sees Asian markets bolstered by Chinese data and an expansion of News Corp’s share repurchase plans.
Thames River closes offshore Global Boutiques fund

13 Jul 2011

Thames River has closed the Dublin-domiciled version of its Global Boutiques fund because of its small size.
China gets first senior IMF job

13 Jul 2011

China has won its first high-level appointment at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with Zhu Min taking the newly created job of deputy managing director.
Italy needs to stick to spending cuts, says IMF

13 Jul 2011

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has stressed the importance of Italy standing by its spending cuts package, amid speculation that the country will be the next victim of the eurozone sovereign debt crisis.
Irish debt downgraded to junk

13 Jul 2011

Moody’s Investors Service has slashed the debt rating of Ireland to junk status, citing the “growing possibility” the country will need a second bailout.
Liquidity profiles ‘continue to strengthen in Lat Am’

12 Jul 2011

Latin American companies have built up their liquidity profiles to a stronger position than before the 2008 financial crisis, according to Moody’s Investors Service.
Economic troubles demand political fixes, say Invesco managers

12 Jul 2011

The economic problems facing the eurozone and the US need political solutions, two Invesco Perpetual fund managers have argued in a panel discussion.
Allianz RCM Bric Stars off Wealth 150

12 Jul 2011

Hargreaves Lansdown has removed the £868.6m Allianz RCM Bric Stars fund from its Wealth 150 list of favourite funds.
“Disappointing” trade stats heighten growth fears

12 Jul 2011

The UK’s widening trade deficit adds to worries that the country’s economic recovery may have slowed during the second quarter of 2011, according to commentators.
UK inflation falls to 4.2%

12 Jul 2011

The UK’s annual inflation rate has fallen slightly over the past month but remains above the government’s target measure, the latest official data reveals.
Japan maintains interest rates

12 Jul 2011

The Bank of Japan has left interest rates at their current level as expected and asserted the economy is recovering from the March 11 disaster.
Markets fall on eurozone woes

12 Jul 2011

Asian markets dropped overnight after yesterday was marred by speculation that the eurozone’s sovereign debt crisis may be spreading into Italy and Spain.
Commodities may have to fall for funds to return to Asia Pacific area

12 Jul 2011

The fall in fund managers’ allocations to the Asia Pacific region is unlikely to be halted or reversed until commodity prices fall further, commentators say.
Julie Dent to retire in September

11 Jul 2011

F&C’s Julie Dent is to retire from the asset management industry later this year, it has been confirmed.
Fed’s repurchasing of assets ‘amounts to QE2.5’

11 Jul 2011

America’s Federal Reserve is continuing to repurchase assets despite the end of its second round of quantitative easing, or QE2, in amounts large enough to be labelled “QE2.5”.
Debt fears rise over Brazil and China

11 Jul 2011

Concerns over emerging markets’ debt problems increased last week after research by Moody’s on China and Marshall Wace on Brazil.
UK manufacturers losing confidence, BDO finds

11 Jul 2011

Confidence in the UK manufacturing sector has fallen to its lowest level in two years, according to research from business advisers BDO.
Melchior Selected Trust fund hard closes at $600m

11 Jul 2011

Dalton Strategic Partnership will hard close the Melchior Selected Trust European Absolute Return fund from today.
Neuberger Berman US Small Cap fund launches with $60m seed

11 Jul 2011

Neuberger Berman today launched the Neuberger Berman US Small Cap fund with $60m (£37.4m) in assets.
GLG launches European long-short Ucits fund

11 Jul 2011

GLG has launched a Ucits version of its European long-short strategy, offering retail investors their first exposure to the team behind this approach.
Greek default plan ‘on eurozone agenda amid Italy fears’

11 Jul 2011

Eurozone ministers are set to accept the need for Greece to default on some of its bonds at a meeting of finance ministers today, according to reports.
Commodities may have to fall for funds to return to Asia Pacific area

Fund Strategy - 11 July 2011

The fall in fund managers’ allocations to the Asia Pacific region is unlikely to be halted or reversed until commodity prices fall further, commentators say.
Debt fears rise over Brazil and China

Fund Strategy - 11 July 2011

Concerns over emerging markets’ debt problems increased last week after research by Moody’s on China and Marshall Wace on Brazil.
Fed’s repurchasing of assets ‘amounts to QE2.5'

Fund Strategy - 11 July 2011

America’s Federal Reserve is continuing to repurchase assets despite the end of its second round of quantitative easing, or QE2, in amounts large enough to be labelled “QE2.5”.
US employment growth slows

8 Jul 2011

Job creation stalled unexpectedly in the US during June, according to the latest official data.
Hedge fund risks should not be underestimated, academic warns

8 Jul 2011

The Alternative Investment Management Association is understating the risks hedge funds pose to global financial stability, according to one academic from the University of Leeds.
German export strength ‘will falter in 2012’

8 Jul 2011

Exports are likely to sustain Germany’s recovery over the remainder of 2011 although a more worrying picture may emerge next year, warns Charles Dumas, the chief economist and chairman of Lombard Street Research.
Jupiter launches Global Energy fund

8 Jul 2011

Jupiter has launched a new fund to capitalise on the growing demand for energy in emerging markets.
Martin Currie plans new fund for Catechis

7 Jul 2011

Martin Currie has confirmed plans to add a new global emerging markets fund to its Luxembourg-domiciled Sicav range.
Hedge funds ‘create no systemic risk’

7 Jul 2011

The US Financial Stability Oversight Council should follow the lead of the FSA when determining the risk hedge funds pose to financial stability, according to the Alternative Investment Management Association (Aima).
Global recession ‘within one quarter’ of QE3

7 Jul 2011

Another global recession could occur within three months of a third quantitative easing programme (QE3) in the US if oil prices are not taken into consideration, according to Cazenove’s Robin McDonald.
Ignis shuffles UK equity team

7 Jul 2011

Ignis Asset Management has announced a number of changes to its UK equity team, including the appointment of Vestra Wealth’s Mark Holden.
Premier Energy & Water Trust moves away from US nuclear

6 Jul 2011

The £65m Premier Energy & Water Trust is moving away from US nuclear stocks and seeking to benefit from the population growth story playing out in the far East, according to co-manager Claire Burgess.
Emerging markets ‘still have pockets of value’, says S&P

6 Jul 2011

Investors can still find value in emerging market equities despite the large volume of inflows witnessed in the area over recent years, according to John Monaghan of Standard and Poor’s (S&P) Fund Services.
Aegon’s Christophe Ferrand dies in house fire

6 Jul 2011

Christophe Ferrand, the chief administration officer of Aegon Asset Management, has died after a fire at his home in Scotland.
Henderson expands Rogan’s global equities team

5 Jul 2011

Henderson has strengthened Neil Rogan’s global equities team with the addition of Antony Gifford and Viane Frost.
Asian fund allocations to drop 90%

5 Jul 2011

Fund allocations to Asian stocks have fallen by about 90% over the last year, according to Strategic Insight.
BlackRock ETFs downgraded over Greece exposure

5 Jul 2011

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has downgraded four BlackRock Fund Advisors exchange-traded funds (ETFs) because of their exposure to Greek debt.
UK services continue to expand, PMI shows

5 Jul 2011

Activity in the UK’s service sector continued to grow at a “solid” pace in June but the eurozone has seen expansion fall to an eight-month low, according to the latest figures published by Markit.
OECD inflation hits 3.2%

5 Jul 2011

Inflation in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) area has reached its highest since October 2008, according to the latest figures.
China’s bad debt problem ‘bigger than expected’

5 Jul 2011

Bad debt held by Chinese local governments is a much larger problem than previously anticipated, Moody’s Investors Service claims.
Base rate freeze is “derelict”, claims economist

4 Jul 2011

Leaving the UK’s base interest rate at 0.5% when inflation is well above target is “simply derelict”, according to Europe Economics’ Andrew Lilico.
Legg Mason’s Edmonds eyes slowdown risks for high-yield

4 Jul 2011

Slowing economic growth and the eurozone sovereign debt crisis present the greatest risks for investors in high-yield corporate bonds, according to the manager of the £545.23m Legg Mason Global Multi Strategy Bond fund.
S&P Greece warning kills French restructuring plan, says F&C’s Scott

4 Jul 2011

Proposals for a voluntary restructuring of Greek debt have been blown out of the water by today’s warning issued by Standard & Poor’s (S&P), says Ted Scott, the director of global strategy at F&C Investments.
OBSR pulls Franklin US Equity fund rating

4 Jul 2011

Old Broad Street Research (OBSR) has removed its rating from one of Franklin Templeton’s funds, due to concerns about the product’s performance.
Fund managers’ profits ease, research finds

4 Jul 2011

Growth in the profits of UK investment managers slowed during the second quarter of the year, according to new research.
Generation unveils first offering with Asia bias

4 Jul 2011

Generation Asset Management (G2AM) has launched its inaugural emerging markets fund with a focus on Asia and will start preparing to add more products to its range.
Generation unveils first offering with Asia bias

Fund Strategy - 4 July 2011

Generation Asset Management (G2AM) has launched its inaugural emerging markets fund with a focus on Asia and will start preparing to add more products to its range.
Risk-taking quest for yield ‘could hit stability’

Fund Strategy - 4 July 2011

Investors’ attempts to find yield in an environment of low returns may threaten financial stability, the Bank of England’s Paul Fisher has warned.
Strauss-Kahn ‘expected to be released from bail’

1 Jul 2011

Prosecutors on the Dominique Strauss-Kahn case have agreed to free the former International Monetary Fund (IMF) head on his own recognizance, according to reports.
Bric manufacturing growth eases in June

1 Jul 2011

Manufacturing activity fell last month across the so-called Bric economies, according to new data from HSBC and Markit.
Ucits IV deadline missed by five leading countries

1 Jul 2011

A number of major financial markets failed to complete the implementation of Ucits IV by today’s deadline.
UK and eurozone manufacturing slows in June

1 Jul 2011

Manufacturing activity eased in both the UK and the eurozone last month, new data compiled by Markit shows.
Japanese utilities downgraded by Moody's

1 Jul 2011

Moody’s has downgraded the ratings of nine Japanese utilities companies, including those that do not rely on nuclear power, and warned that further action may come.
Geithner ‘planning to end Treasury secretary stint’

1 Jul 2011

Timothy Geithner is considering stepping down as the US Treasury secretary after negotiations on the country’s borrowing ceiling come to a close, according to reports.
Quinn leaves Aviva

30 Jun 2011

Julie Quinn, the manager of the Aviva Investors Sustainable Future European Growth fund, has left the company for personal reasons.
Eurozone crisis still biggest global threat, says Fitch

30 Jun 2011

The eurozone’s debt crisis remains the leading threat for the global economic and sovereign credit outlook, according to new research, although potential slowdown in emerging markets should not be ignored.
F&C’s Porter to oversee investment trust business

30 Jun 2011

F&C’s investment trust and open-ended funds businesses are to become more closely aligned under restructuring plans.
Risky portfolio rebalancing threatens stability, says Bank’s Fisher

30 Jun 2011

The search for growing returns in the current low-yield environment could be increasing the risks to financial stability, the Bank of England’s Paul Fisher asserts.
Patience needed for high street investment, says Buxton

30 Jun 2011

Opportunities for investment will arise in the UK retail sector, despite harsh conditions blighting the high street, according to Schroders’ head of UK equities.
Barings plans new emerging market fund

30 Jun 2011

Baring Asset Management has unveiled a new fund aiming to target emerging market assets while risking less volatility.
US government-linked ratings ‘at risk of lock-step downgrade’

30 Jun 2011

The credit ratings of bodies directly linked to the US government would fall if the country were downgraded, Moody’s Investors Service warns.
Stockmarkets gain after Greek vote

30 Jun 2011

The Australian stockmarket saw out the last day of its financial year with strong gains, after the Greek parliament passed a key vote on fresh austerity measures
Greek austerity vote: Manager reaction

29 Jun 2011

Fund managers have reacted to the news that the Greek parliament has approved €28 billion (£25 billion) of fresh austerity measures essential for future bailout funding.
JP Morgan unveils market neutral Japan fund

29 Jun 2011

JP Morgan Asset Management has launched a new fund which will use its Nippon Neutral Strategy.
GLG soft-closes European long/short fund

29 Jun 2011

The GLG European Alpha Alternative Ucits fund is to soft-close after reaching the $1 billion (£630m) mark.
Greece passes €28 billion austerity package

29 Jun 2011

The Greek parliament has voted to approve a new austerity package by a narrow margin.
Fatca ‘creeping up on asset managers’

29 Jun 2011

The investment management industry is falling behind in its preparations for the forthcoming US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (Fatca), new research shows.
Greek default a near certainty, claims Ignis’ Thomson

29 Jun 2011

Greece is almost certain to default during the coming 18 months, according to Ignis Asset Management’s chief economist.
Morningstar to monitor IMA sectors

29 Jun 2011

The Investment Management Association (IMA) has appointed Morningstar UK to monitor the funds classified within its sector.
Japanese industry continues earthquake recovery

29 Jun 2011

Japan’s manufacturers continue to demonstrate recovery from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, with production and shipments rising last month.
Fund manager heads aiming for agility, KPMG finds

29 Jun 2011

The heads of fund management houses think that agility is essential to their future success, a new report will claim.
Lagarde to helm IMF

29 Jun 2011

Christine Lagarde, the French finance minister, has been appointed as the new managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Henderson’s Pattullo and Barnard ‘prefer default risk to rate risk’

28 Jun 2011

John Pattullo and Jenna Barnard have increased the Henderson Preference & Bond fund’s weighting to high-yield in a bid to reduce interest rate risk.
US supports Lagarde for top IMF job

28 Jun 2011

The US government has backed the bid of Christine Lagarde, the French finance minister, to become the next head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Fresh austerity is Greece’s only option, says European commissioner

28 Jun 2011

Greece has no option but to accept tighter austerity measures if it wishes to avoid default, the European commissioner for economic and financial affairs asserts.
UK growth figure left at 0.5%

28 Jun 2011

The UK economy grew at 0.5% during the first quarter of the year, the government’s final figures confirm.
Oil prices rise despite IEA release

28 Jun 2011

Oil prices have rallied slightly despite moves to head off increases by pumping an additional 60m barrels into the market.
Sunwah moves on two RAB funds

28 Jun 2011

Sunwah International hopes to buy two energy funds from RAB Capital, just days after the London-based firm announced plans to delist from the Alternative Investment Market (AIM).
BoE calls for contagion safeguards

28 Jun 2011

Large British banks should improve the way they report their exposure to countries in the throes of a sovereign debt crisis, the Bank of England’s financial policy committee (FPC) concluded at its first meeting last week.
Smaller cities in China sustain slowing property boom

28 Jun 2011

Smaller cities are driving property price hikes in China, the latest data shows, although signs of moderation are appearing in the market.
West should co-ordinate fund house regulation, says KPMG

27 Jun 2011

The western world’s investment management industries could lose business to Asia without more co-ordinated regulation, a new study argues.
Bank weakness holding down rates, claims LSR’s Dannhauser

27 Jun 2011

The weakness of UK banks could be increasing pressure on the Bank of England to delay raising interest rates, according to Lombard Street Research (LSR).
French banks agree to "re-profile" Greek debt

27 Jun 2011

French banks would accept a rollover to help Greece deal with its growing debt problems, the country’s president says.
Crises likely to get more frequent, OECD says

27 Jun 2011

The global economy is likely to face more frequent and disruptive shocks, with financial crises presenting the greatest danger, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) predicts.
Hexam sources support services from IFDS

27 Jun 2011

Hexam Capital, the emerging markets specialist, has appointed IFDS, the international fund administrator, to supply support services to its range of funds.
Threadneedle completes high-yield team expansion

27 Jun 2011

Threadneedle has increased the size of its high-yield bond team to a total of seven specialists with the appointment of two new analysts.
BIS calls for higher interest rates

27 Jun 2011

Tighter monetary policy is required on the global stage to alleviate risks to financial stability, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) warns.
Asia Pacific ratings to hold steady, Moody’s predicts

27 Jun 2011

Credit ratings for companies based in the Asia Pacific region are likely to remain stable for the rest of the year, investors have been told.
Pimco fund focuses on interest rate risk

27 Jun 2011

Pimco has launched an income fund targeted at investors looking to address concerns about rising interest rates.
Bank calls for contagion safeguards

Fund Strategy - 27 June 2011

Large British banks should improve the way they report their exposure to countries in the throes of a sovereign debt crisis, the Bank of England’s financial policy committee (FPC) concluded at its first meeting last week.
Britain lags world in quota of wealthy

Fund Strategy - 27 June 2011

The number of British millionaires in dollar terms failed to return to pre-crisis levels last year, despite a better recovery both in Europe and globally, the latest research shows.
Fed downgrades forecast for economic growth

Fund Strategy - 27 June 2011

The Federal Reserve (Fed) has downgraded its forecast for American economic growth in light of “temporary” factors.
Smaller cities in China sustain slowing boom

Fund Strategy - 27 June 2011

Smaller cities are driving property price hikes in China, the latest data shows, although signs of moderation are appearing in the market.
Bailouts not enough to end crisis, says King

24 Jun 2011

Throwing bailout money at countries blighted by sovereign debt crises will be ineffective without agreement on a long-term solution, according to the governor of the Bank of England.
US growth revised up to 1.9%

24 Jun 2011

The US economy expanded by 1.9% in the opening three months of the year, according to the latest revision.
FPC calls for better indirect debt exposure reporting

24 Jun 2011

Improved disclosure of major UK banks’ exposure to countries in the throes of sovereign debt crises should be permanently included in the reporting framework, according to the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee (FPC).
IMF concludes Lagarde and Carstens meetings

24 Jun 2011

Both candidates for the managing director spot at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have now met with the lender’s executive board.
Greece wins second bailout deal

24 Jun 2011

Greece and the international community have made a deal on a second bailout package for the beleaguered nation.
F&C Thames River on RDR: Poor-quality funds are dead

24 Jun 2011

The asset management industry will undergo greater consolidation after the FSA’s retail distribution review (RDR) comes into effect at the end of 2012, the head of proposition at F&C Thames River predicts.
Gledhill takes fixed income role at Axa

23 Jun 2011

Former Henderson man James Gledhill will join Axa Investment Managers’ global fixed income team, it has been confirmed.
No end of euro debt crisis in sight, says Ernst & Young

23 Jun 2011

The eurozone’s sovereign debt crisis is likely to worsen in the coming months as the problems dealing with Greece reverberate through the bloc, a new report by Ernst & Young argues.
High net worth population passes pre-crisis high, research finds

23 Jun 2011

The number of people with more than $1m (£620,000) of investable assets has exceeded the pre-crisis high of 2007, according to the latest research.
Chinese manufacturing ‘moving to stagnation’

23 Jun 2011

Activity in China’s manufacturing sector is close to standstill, an early forecast suggests.
Fed cuts US growth forecast

23 Jun 2011

The Federal Reserve has lowered its forecast for US economic growth in light of rising inflation and the Japanese earthquake.
China’s policy tightening set to continue, claims Allianz’s Chung

22 Jun 2011

The Chinese government will continue with its policy tightening measures over the rest of the year, the manager of the £431.6m Allianz RCM China fund argues.
JP Morgan ‘knew of Squared losses in 2007’

22 Jun 2011

JP Morgan was aware that a security it created in 2007 was making growing losses, even as the firm sold it to outside investors, according to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Papandreou survives cabinet confidence vote

22 Jun 2011

Greek prime minister George Papandreou has won the critical vote of confidence in his reshuffled cabinet.
Nagele joins Castle Trust

21 Jun 2011

Matthew Nagele, the former managing director of fund distribution at Old Mutual Asset Managers (Omam), has joined Castle Trust as its managing director of distribution.
Emerging market inflation not too high, says Lazard’s Gillespie

21 Jun 2011

Inflation in the emerging world is at “reasonably low” levels but is yet to peak, according to one of the Lazard Developing Markets Equity fund’s managers.
Bolton dismisses China concerns

21 Jun 2011

Anthony Bolton’s Fidelity China Special Situations investment trust has ended its first full year ahead of its benchmark, with the manager downplaying the tough conditions present in China.
Public sector borrowing recovers from surprise increase

21 Jun 2011

The UK’s public sector borrowing declined last month, new official figures show, alleviating concerns raised by the surprise jump in April.
Lombard Odier adds Ian Clarke to London office

21 Jun 2011

Ian Clarke has been appointed the deputy chief investment officer of Lombard Odier Investment Managers’ fixed income and currencies business.
Moody’s upgrades Brazil

20 Jun 2011

The government bond ratings of Brazil have been upgraded from Baa3 to Baa2 by Moody’s Investors Service.
Schroders appoints Bob Jolly as head of global macro

20 Jun 2011

Bob Jolly will join Schroders from UBS Global Asset Management later this year, as the group grows its fixed income team.
Household finances fall at sharp pace, Markit finds

20 Jun 2011

The finances of UK households have deteriorated at their sharpest pace for more than two years, adding to fears that the country is facing a double-dip recession.
Eurozone delays Greek bailout decision

20 Jun 2011

Eurozone finance ministers have delayed the decision to approve the next disbursement of bailout funding to Greece.
Views clash on US and Chinese easing

14 Jun 2011

Commentators have clashed over the likelihood of America and China easing their economic policies ahead of their respective presidential elections in 2012.
Views clash on US and Chinese easing

Fund Strategy - 13 June 2011

Commentators have clashed over the likelihood of America and China easing their economic policies ahead of their respective presidential elections in 2012.
Melchior takes on new analyst

10 Jun 2011

Leonard Charlton has added a new analyst to the Melchior Selected Trust European Absolute Return European fund’s equity long/short team.
Bank tightening signs drive equity fund outflows

10 Jun 2011

Investors have pulled money from equity funds and channelled it into bond-focused products this week, driven by signs central banks are tightening policy.
Euro banks face second order risks in default, Fitch warns

10 Jun 2011

“Second order” disruption to bank funding markets is a greater threat to the eurozone’s financial institutions than the direct credit losses caused by any sovereign default, Fitch Ratings claims.
Rathbone on RDR: Low-cost funds are not essential

10 Jun 2011

Rathbone Unit Trust Management plans to benefit from industry-changing Retail Distribution Review (RDR) regulation without launching lower-cost funds, according to the company’s chief executive.
US unemployment claims rise unexpectedly

9 Jun 2011

Initial claims for unemployment benefits in the US rose slightly last week, despite commentators expect to see a fall recorded.
ECB keeps rates at 1.25%

9 Jun 2011

The European Central Bank (ECB) has maintained its key interest rates at 1.25% as broadly expected by the markets, but hints a raise could take place in July.
China “still has a propensity for property bubbles”

9 Jun 2011

China should adopt a “more balanced” approach to monetary policy in its bid to control inflation and stabilise its economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said, warning the country “still has a propensity for property bubbles”.
Asian inflation will stay higher than usual, says Invesco’s Parks

9 Jun 2011

Inflation across Asia is likely to remain higher than historical averages, but this does not suggest the region is at risk of overheating, according to the head of Asian equities at Invesco Perpetual.
Bank holds base rate at 0.5%

9 Jun 2011

The UK’s base interest rate has been held at its historic low of 0.5% for the 27th month running.
Fed’s Beige Book shows signs of US slowdown

9 Jun 2011

Several US regions experienced weak economic growth during May, research by the regional Federal Reserves shows.
Arab uprisings will hit Middle East growth, says World Bank

8 Jun 2011

The so-called Arab Spring will hold back economic growth across the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) this year, according to the World Bank.
EU and eurozone GDP grows 0.8%, figures confirm

8 Jun 2011

The economies of both the eurozone and the European Union (EU) grew by 0.8% in the first three months of the year, according to the latest figures.
M&G’s Lord warns of possible credit sell-off

8 Jun 2011

Investors could move out of investment grade credit that is more highly attuned to market movements as economic policy tightens, according to the manager of the £262.5m M&G High Interest fund.
Commission warns on UK public finances

8 Jun 2011

The European Commission has warned of long-term risks to the UK’s public finances, although it says it supports the UK’s plans to reduce its deficit.
Green revolution following Japan quake, says Jupiter’s Somerville

7 Jun 2011

Japan has seen a surge of interest in power saving and alternative energy products since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, according to Jupiter’s joint head of far eastern equities.
Miners hitting richer seams but funds remain cautious

7 Jun 2011

Conditions in the global mining industry are improving, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), but not all fund managers are convinced about the attractiveness of the sector.
UN calls for intervention in commodity markets

6 Jun 2011

Governments should consider intervening in financial markets to curtail speculation in core commodities such as food and oil, the United Nations (UN) says.
Strauss-Kahn pleads not guilty to sex attack charges

6 Jun 2011

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former head of the International Monetary Fund, has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted rape and sexual assault.
“Naïve” BoE fails to boost growth, says Cazenove’s Jeffrey

6 Jun 2011

The UK’s weak economic expansion shows the Bank of England was “naïve” in expecting its prolonged quantitative easing programme to restore growth, according to the chief investment officer at Cazenove Capital Management.
UK should stick with cuts, says IMF

6 Jun 2011

The UK faces an uneven recovery but the government should stick with its macroeconomic policies, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has concluded.
US fails to see significant job creation

3 Jun 2011

The US unemployment rate was “essentially unchanged” during May, according to the latest government figures.
Commodities boom could be ending, says Lord Rothschild

3 Jun 2011

The boom in commodities could be showing signs of drawing to a close, according to Lord Rothschild, the City grandee.
Trichet calls for European finance ministry

3 Jun 2011

Europe should establish a single ministry of finance with powers to intervene in national policy, according to Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the European Central Bank.
Groupon plans $750m flotation

3 Jun 2011

Groupon, the social discount coupon network, has unveiled plans to go public in a $750m (£460m) listing on the US stock market.
Moody’s warns of US downgrade review

3 Jun 2011

The US government’s debt rating could be placed on review for downgrade if prompt progress is not made on raising the country’s statutory debt limit.
Trichet: Euro is not in crisis

2 Jun 2011

The eurozone is not at the point of crisis despite sovereign debt problems on the periphery of the bloc, according to the head of the European Central Bank.
US unemployment falls despite recent woes

2 Jun 2011

The number of people making their first claim for unemployment benefit in the US fell slightly last week, the latest government figures show.
US data shows economic “horror show”, says M&G’s Riddell

2 Jun 2011

May was a “horror show” for the US economy which is only set to get worse, according to Mike Riddell, a member of the fixed income team at M&G.
‘Even chance’ of Greek default, warns Moody’s

2 Jun 2011

Rating agency Moody’s has downgraded Greece by another three notches and assigned it a negative outlook, claiming the country is moving closer to default.
Monks trust boosts borrowing

2 Jun 2011

The £1.2 billion Monks investment trust has increased its borrowing over the past year to invest in opportunities in the equity markets.
Environmental fund manager grows assets by 30%

2 Jun 2011

The amount of money run by Impax Asset Management, the environmental investment manager, has increased by almost one third over the last six months, the company’s interim results show.
Jonathan Polin quits Ignis

2 Jun 2011

Jonathan Polin, the sales and marketing director at Ignis Asset Management, is leaving the firm.
Default would force ECB recapitalisation, warns F&C’s Scott

1 Jun 2011

Europe’s central bank could be forced to recapitalise in the event of a default by Greece, Ted Scott, the director of global strategy at F&C Investments, says.
Bric manufacturing growth eases in May

1 Jun 2011

Brazil, Russia, India and China are experiencing continued growth in manufacturing activity, according to the latest surveys, albeit at a more moderate pace.
Edinburgh New Income to be disbanded

1 Jun 2011

Shareholders have voted to disband Aberdeen Asset Management’s £34.9m Edinburgh New Income investment trust in accordance with the terms of its original launch.
Belarus devaluation feeding crisis fears

1 Jun 2011

Belarus has been forced to freeze the price of key foodstuffs as the country’s economic situation continues to deteriorate, raising the fears of yet another sovereign debt crisis on the continent.
Bank suspends Glencore loans following investigation

1 Jun 2011

The European Investment Bank (EIB) will refuse to lend to Glencore while investigating the Swiss commodity trader’s corporate governance.
Growth steady across OECD area, stats show

1 Jun 2011

Economic growth remains steady in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) area, the latest figures show, although “diverging trends” are present in member countries.
Manufacturing growth slowing in UK and eurozone

1 Jun 2011

Growth in the UK’s manufacturing sector has fallen to a 20-month low, while a broad slowdown is in place across the eurozone, the latest reports reveal.
Principal launches global high yield fund for Post Advisory

1 Jun 2011

Principal Global Investors has launched a fund investing in short term high yield debt from around the world, managed by Post Advisory Group.
Greece ‘needs another bailout’, says Fitch

31 May 2011

Greece has to receive more financial support from the international community to avoid further funding problems in the coming years, according to Fitch Ratings.
EU to strengthen Excessive Deficit Procedure

31 May 2011

The European Union (EU) will tighten the rules and penalties of its Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP), after conceding that the system is “not effective”.
Firms criticise re-labelling of managed sectors

31 May 2011

Renaming the Investment Management Association (IMA) Active, Balanced and Cautious Managed fund sectors will not improve the way funds are categorised and sold, according to several of the IMA’s member firms.
BCC cuts UK growth forecast to 1.3%

31 May 2011

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has lowered its forecast for economic growth in the UK in 2011 and 2012.
Inflation hits 2.5 year high in OECD area

31 May 2011

Consumer prices in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) area rose at their fastest pace since October 2008 last month.
LV= launches US equity income fund

31 May 2011

LV= Asset Management (LVAM) has launched a new fund that aims to generate an income for investors from US stocks.
Japanese manufacturers recovering from quake

31 May 2011

Japan’s manufacturers are demonstrating the first signs of recovery from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the latest government statistics show.
Moody’s puts Japan on review for downgrade

31 May 2011

Japan’s Aa2 local and foreign currency bond ratings have been placed on review for a possible downgrade by Moody’s Investors Service.
Mergers proposed for Thames River UK equity funds

31 May 2011

F&C Thames River has unveiled plans to merge two UK equity funds into larger products.
Firms criticise re-labelling of managed sectors

Fund Strategy - 30 May 2011

Renaming the Investment Management Association (IMA) Active, Balanced and Cautious Managed fund sectors will not improve the way funds are categorised and sold, according to several of the IMA’s member firms.
Henderson’s Cazier defends IMA sector rebranding

27 May 2011

The Investment Management Association (IMA) could be right in changing the names of the Active, Balanced and Cautious Managed sectors, says Stewart Cazier, the head of product at Henderson Global Investors.
G8 offers $20 billion to support “Arab spring”

27 May 2011

Egypt and Tunisia could receive more than $20 billion (£12.4 billion) over the next two years to bolster their reform efforts, the Group of Eight highly industrialised nations (G8) says.
Renaming managed sectors is “a farce”, says Skandia’s Bentley

27 May 2011

The Investment Management Association’s decision to change the names of its managed sectors avoids tackling real problems in the industry, Skandia claims.
Fitch gives Japan negative outlook

27 May 2011

Japan’s financial outlook has been cut from stable to negative by Fitch Ratings, although its credit ratings have been held at their current level.
Unemployment claims start to rise in US

26 May 2011

The number of people making an initial claim for unemployment benefits rose in the US last week.
US GDP growth estimate held at 1.8%

26 May 2011

The US economy expanded by 1.8% during the first three months of the year, the latest official statistics show.
Stronger sanctions would help eurozone, says Trichet

26 May 2011

Stricter sanctions should be applied to eurozone members that fail to abide by the bloc’s economic governance rules, the head of the European Central Bank (ECB) has argued.
IMA to change Managed sector labels to letters

26 May 2011

The Investment Management Association (IMA) plans to rename the Active, Balanced and Cautious Managed sectors Managed A, B and C and create a new Managed D peer group for the least risky managed funds.
Japan and EU expected to boost trade

26 May 2011

Imports from Japan into the European Union (EU) have fallen by almost one-third over the last 10 years, the latest official statistics show.
Elections worsening Spain’s plight, warns Ignis’s Thomson

26 May 2011

The defeat of Spain’s ruling party in the recent regional elections has left the country with a “lame duck administration” and risks further fiscal problems, according to Stuart Thomson, the chief economist at Ignis Asset Management.
Emerging market debt “had a good run”, says Artemis’ Foster

26 May 2011

Bond managers are not convinced of plentiful opportunities remaining in emerging market corporate debt, despite growing levels of issuance being reported in the sector.
Greek default could cause second crisis, warn managers

25 May 2011

Greece is increasingly likely to default and could trigger a second financial crisis, bond fund managers at Henderson and Artemis have warned.
Caledonia Investments overhauls strategy

25 May 2011

The Caledonia Investments trust will attempt to improve its performance by changing its approach to investments rather than radically altering the way it buys back shares.
Egypt and Tunisia offered $6 billion by World Bank

25 May 2011

The World Bank has offered up to $6 billion (£3.7 billion) to Egypt and Tunisia in an explicit move to support successful uprisings in the countries.
No rush for rate rise, says MPC’s Fisher

24 May 2011

The Bank of England should delay an increase in the base interest rate for the time being, according to Paul Fisher, a member of its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
Greek default would damage eurozone periphery, says Moody’s

24 May 2011

Any default on Greece’s debt is likely to hurt other peripheral eurozone countries, Moody’s warns.
Mexico puts up first IMF candidate

24 May 2011

The Mexican Finance Ministry has officially nominated the chief of the country’s central bank to head up the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Spain has to lower cost of borrowing, Ordóñez warns

24 May 2011

Spain needs to accept responsibility for its financial problems and take steps to reduce its borrowing costs, rather than placing blame wholly on the markets, the head of the country’s central bank has argued.
Fundweb poll: No revision to Q1 growth expected

24 May 2011

The majority of economists surveyed by Fundweb expect UK GDP growth for the first quarter to be unrevised from last month’s estimate of 0.5%.
Martin Currie Portfolio trust takes global equity focus

23 May 2011

Shareholders in the £147.6m Martin Currie Portfolio Investment Trust have voted in favour of giving the fund a global equity focus.
Commodity boom ending, says LSR’s Skene

23 May 2011

The 21st century commodity boom is close to breaking point, according to Leigh Skene, a consultant at Lombard Street Research (LSR), the research group.
Optimism on European high yield falling, says Fitch

23 May 2011

European investors are becoming less optimistic about the opportunities in high-yield bonds, new research by Fitch Ratings reveals.
Chinese production continues to ease, HSBC finds

23 May 2011

Manufacturing activity in China has fallen to a 10-month low over the course of May, latest figures suggest.
Merchant Capital to advise Ignis Global Funds

23 May 2011

Merchant Capital will act as the advisor on Ignis Asset Management’s recently-launched Sicav umbrella on an ongoing basis, it has been confirmed.
Alliance Trust wins vote on discounts

20 May 2011

Alliance Trust, Britain’s largest investment trust, has won a vote which tried to force it to control its share price discount on an automatic basis and abandon provisions to scale up votes from its savings scheme members.
Schroder US Mid Cap removed from HL Wealth 150

20 May 2011

Hargreaves Lansdown has removed the £877.8m Schroder US Mid Cap fund from its Wealth 150 list of recommended funds, as the manager is no long seeking new investments into the product.
Knox to step down as Alliance Trust head

20 May 2011

Lesley Knox will step down as the chairman of the £3.15 billion Alliance Trust as part of its board’s succession plan.
Calamos Emerging Markets fund launched under Ucits

20 May 2011

The Calamos Emerging Markets fund has been made available to retail and institutional investors outside of the US after being launched as a Ucits strategy.
Bank of Japan worried by US finances and euro debt

20 May 2011

Europe’s sovereign debt crisis and the US’ balance sheet problems are compounding the difficulties facing the Japanese economy, the country’s central bank says.
Thames River emerging markets fund to rely on active short book

19 May 2011

The new Thames River Global Emerging Markets Absolute Return fund will use an active short book to capitalise on changing conditions in the developing world, one of its co-managers reveals.
Market prefers soft Greek debt restructuring, says F&C’s Scott

19 May 2011

‘Soft’ restructuring of Greek government debt could spark a positive reaction from the market but taking a harder approach may prove disastrous for the European financial system, F&C’s Ted Scott claims.
UK manufacturers still worried by inflation, CBI finds

19 May 2011

UK manufacturers’ predictions of inflation eased last month, but are still concerning, according to research by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
EU schedules bond launches for bailout funds

19 May 2011

The bond issuance calendars of Europe’s bailout funds have been revised to account for the financial package offered to Portugal.
Close investment arm posts small loss

19 May 2011

Close Brothers’ asset management arm made a small loss during its most recent trading quarter, according to the group’s interim management statement.
Investec assets hit £59 billion

19 May 2011

The amount of money run by Investec Asset Management has reached a record high, new figures from the company show.
Japan returns to recession

19 May 2011

Japan has fallen back into recession following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the latest official figures show.
IMF head Strauss-Kahn resigns over sex attack charge

19 May 2011

Dominique Strauss-Kahn has stepped down as the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to concentrate on fighting sexual assault allegations.
Premier’s King to avoid UK consumers for rest of 2011

18 May 2011

Simon King, a UK equity fund manager at Premier, says he will avoid stocks that are orientated towards UK consumers for at least the rest of the year.
Threadneedle loses American manager Holliman

18 May 2011

Andrew Holliman is to leave Threadneedle after seven years with the firm, it has been confirmed.
Strauss-Kahn “not in a position to run IMF”, says Geithner

18 May 2011

Dominique Strauss-Kahn should not remain in charge of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after being arrested for an alleged sexual assault, American Treasury secretary Timothy Geithner said yesterday.
EU agrees on short-selling rules

17 May 2011

European Union (EU) finance ministers have reached an agreement on new rules for shorting financial instruments, but have not recommended banning ‘naked’ short-selling.
Pictet fund buys into Russian Facebook investor

17 May 2011

The Pictet Russian Equities fund has started investing in Russian technology stocks, buying a stake in Mail.ru, an early investor in Facebook.
SW Mitchell to launch European long/short fund

16 May 2011

SW Mitchell Capital is to launch a portfolio with long and short exposure to European smaller companies under its new Irish fund umbrella.
JP Morgan’s Sillars to join Jupiter Merlin team

16 May 2011

Jupiter Asset Management has added to its Merlin fund of funds team with the appointment of Amanda Sillars and David Lewis.
Eurozone inflation hits 2.8%

16 May 2011

Annual inflation in the eurozone reached 2.8% in April, increasing from 2.7% in the previous month, according to the latest data.
Aviva plans American equity income fund

16 May 2011

Aviva Investors intends to launch an American equity income fund later this year, subject to regulatory approval.
IMF chief denies sexual assault charges

16 May 2011

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will “vigorously” defend himself against sexual assault allegations, his legal team says.
Schroders hires Kate Jones as head of investment services

16 May 2011

Kate Jones has been appointed head of investment services at Schroders and tasked with developing a new global investment operating platform.
Authorities demand tougher tests

Fund Strategy - 16 May 2011

The two financial authorities bailing out troubled eurozone countries are at odds over how to stress test their banking systems, a report last week revealed.
Isa take-up surges to a nine-year high in March

Fund Strategy - 16 May 2011

Isas recorded their best sales for nine years in the run-up to the end of the financial year.
American inflation continues to creep up

13 May 2011

Inflation fell slightly in America during April, official figures show, but is still increasing on an annual basis.
Financial reforms half finished, says Trichet

13 May 2011

The eurozone needs to focus on implementing the reforms made necessary by the financial crisis, according to the head of its central bank.
EU warns of jobless recovery

13 May 2011

Europe is likely to face a “rather jobless recovery” in the coming years, the EU warns.
Record retail sales posted for tracker funds

13 May 2011

Tracker funds benefited from the highest retail sales on record during the first quarter of 2011, according to the latest IMA figures.
Take-home pay to fall this year, says IFS

13 May 2011

Consumers are likely to see their spending power squeezed by falls in take-home pay, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) warns.
Unemployment claims fall again in America

12 May 2011

American unemployment benefit claims fell last week after recently jumping because of special factors, the latest official figures show.
Hedge funds will not flee Europe, says Man chief

12 May 2011

Tighter regulation is not driving the hedge fund industry out of the European Union, according to the head of hedge fund giant Man Group.
European recovery relies on bold policy moves, says IMF

12 May 2011

Bold policy action is essential to bolster Europe’s economic recovery, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) claims.
Raj Rajaratnam guilty in insider trading case

11 May 2011

Galleon Group founder Raj Rajaratnam has been found guilty of all 14 charges in what American prosecutors claim is the largest hedge fund insider trading case in history.
Schroders launches ISF Euro Credit Duration Hedged fund

11 May 2011

Schroders has launched a new fund to offer investors exposure to the European corporate bond market, but with lower risks from rises in interest rates.
Inflation may hit 5%, says King

11 May 2011

Rising utility bills could force inflation up to 5% this year, Bank of England governor Mervyn King warns.
Armitage to leave Schroders

11 May 2011

Jonathan Armitage is stepping down as the head of American large cap equities at Schroders to move to Australia.
Aberdeen announces small cap emerging market trust

11 May 2011

Aberdeen Asset Management has unveiled plans for a new investment trust targeting smaller stocks in emerging markets.
British trade deficit widens 11% in March

11 May 2011

Britain’s trade deficit widened 11% to £3 billion during March, from the revised figure of £2.7 billion in the previous month, despite hopes that exports would revive the economy.
Threadneedle’s Robin expects energy rally to power on

11 May 2011

Recent events on the global stage have created reasons for the Threadneedle (Lux) Enhanced Commodities fund to remain overweight in energy, Nicolas Robin, the fund’s co-manager, explains.
Bonds and asset allocation bring down British Assets Trust return

10 May 2011

The £484.3m British Assets Trust has outperformed its benchmark, despite asset allocation and corporate bonds contributing negatively to returns, the company confirms.
Moody’s highlights improving sovereign debt conditions

10 May 2011

Jamaica was the only sovereign to default last year and conditions seem to be improving in the some areas of the debt market, a new report from the Moody’s Investors Service says.
Ollie Beckett to run TR European Growth trust

10 May 2011

Ollie Beckett, a manager at Henderson, will take over the TR European Growth investment trust (TREG) from Stephen Peak this summer.
London retains economic clout despite crisis, says PwC

9 May 2011

The financial crisis has failed to topple London’s position as one of the most economically important cities in the world, according to research by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
G2AM preparing to unveil first fund

9 May 2011

Generation Asset Management (G2AM) has given new details about the likely form of its first offering for British retail investors.
Octopus adds Simon Reynolds to multi manager team

9 May 2011

Simon Reynolds has joined Octopus Investments from AXA Group’s Australian multi manager Ipac.
Banks’ secured funding rush worries investors, Fitch says

9 May 2011

European fixed income investors are becoming concerned by banks’ growing use of secured funding, research by Fitch Ratings shows.
Output growth slows in seven English regions, Lloyds TSB finds

9 May 2011

Business activity improved in all nine English regions last month, according to the latest figures, although the pace of growth slowed in many areas.
Martin Currie Pacific changes see Graham replace Millar

9 May 2011

Andrew Graham will become the lead manager of the £137.6m Martin Currie Pacific trust, taking over from John Millar.
Tiburon’s Fleming handed Skandia Global Best Ideas mandate

9 May 2011

Tiburon Partners’ Mark Fleming has been awarded a £20m mandate in the £329.5m Skandia Global Best Ideas fund.
Glencore ‘to be focus as shadow bank’ after float

Fund Strategy - 9 May 2011

The approaching flotation of Glencore will subject the world’s second-largest commodity trader to greater public scrutiny. But the firm is going into the deal “with its eyes open”, according to a specialist in the field.
High-yield defaults still falling, Moody’s reports

6 May 2011

Defaults in the global high-yield bond market continue to decline, new research from Moody’s Investors Service asserts.
American unemployment rises despite job creation

6 May 2011

America’s unemployment rate increased last month even though there was a rise in the number of people finding work, new government figures show.
Producer prices continue to rise, ONS shows

6 May 2011

Rising input costs are continuing to force manufacturers to push up their prices, the latest official data suggests, which may add to the Bank of England’s concerns over inflation.
Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust shares reach record high

6 May 2011

The £2.5 billion Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust has posted significant rises in both its share price and net asset per share in its annual results.
Fed balance sheet hits new highs

6 May 2011

The Federal Reserve’s balance sheet has grown to a record $2.703 trillion (£1.62 trillion), figures for the week ending May 4 show.
Tigue sells out of developed Asia

6 May 2011

A perceived lack of opportunities in developed Asia has allowed F&C’s Jeremy Tigue to reduce the gearing of the £2.3 billion Foreign & Colonial Investment Trust.
Selective stockpicking essential in Euro markets, says S&P’s Fuller

6 May 2011

Careful use of stockpicking allowed fund managers to navigate tough conditions in the European markets last year and can give them hope for the coming year, the latest research from Standard & Poor’s (S&P) says.
Impact of Mena unrest becoming clear, says Fitch

5 May 2011

The full economic cost of political unrest in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) is becoming apparent, according to Fitch Ratings.
American unemployment claims jump unexpectedly

5 May 2011

Unemployment claims in America showed a surprise increase last week, according to the latest official figures.
Bank keeps rates at record lows

5 May 2011

The Bank of England has maintained the base rate at its historic low of 0.5% for the 26th consecutive month.
Service sector growth slowed in April, firms report

5 May 2011

Growth in the British service sector slowed last month, according to the Markit/Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Purchasing Managers’ Index.
Rising oil price to hamper global growth, Niesr warns

5 May 2011

Global growth could slip from 5.2% in 2010 to 4.4% in the coming two years, a new report predicts.
Trade to power Britain’s growth, says Niesr

5 May 2011

All of Britain’s economic growth this year will be the result of trade, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (Niesr) predicts.
Basel III will not strengthen banks alone, warns Moody’s

5 May 2011

Basel III is not enough to prompt banks’ standalone credit strength to return to pre-crisis levels on its own, research from Moody’s argues.
Schroders sees 11% profit rise

5 May 2011

Schroders’ profit before tax increased by 11.4% in the opening three months of 2011 when compared with last year, the firm has announced.
Payroll firm sees “moderate” uptick in US jobs

4 May 2011

America’s employment situation continues to improve but at a “moderate” rate, according a report published ahead of the government’s official data on Thursday and Friday.
Portugal offered €78 billion bailout

4 May 2011

Portugal has agreed the details of its anticipated bailout with the international community as its finances become increasingly stretched.
LGIM assets hit £356 billion

4 May 2011

The amount of money managed by Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) has increased by 8%, the firm’s first quarter results reveal.
Brazier promoted to Threadneedle’s British equities head

3 May 2011

Simon Brazier has been appointed as the new head of British equities at Threadneedle.
British manufacturing growth ‘starting to fade’

3 May 2011

The recovery of the British manufacturing industry may be starting to slow, new figures suggest.
Schroder AS Gold & Metals fund to take new approach

3 May 2011

The Schroder AS Gold & Metals fund has been renamed and undergone a change in its investment approach, the asset manager confirms.
OECD inflation hits 2.7%

3 May 2011

Inflation in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) area reached 2.7% in the year to March 31, according to the latest figures.
F&C assets exceed £106.1 billion

3 May 2011

The money run by F&C Asset Management increased slightly over the last three months, according to the firm’s latest interim management statement.
Artemis builds new global equities team

3 May 2011

Artemis Investment Management has taken on two fund managers to create a new global equities team.
HSBC Specialist Investments renamed InfraRed

3 May 2011

The management team of HSBC Specialist Investments has purchased the business and renamed it InfraRed Capital Partners.
Aberdeen reports record £142.8m profit

3 May 2011

Aberdeen Asset Management saw its profit before tax increase by more than half in the last six months, the company has announced.
Economies will benefit from uprisings, says IMF

Fund Strategy - 2 May 2011

The Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan will ultimately benefit from recent uprisings, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) suggests.
American GDP growth eases to 1.8%

28 Apr 2011

America’s economic growth slowed to 1.8% in the opening three months of 2011, the latest official advance estimate suggests.
China avoiding overheating risk, new studies suggest

28 Apr 2011

China’s economy is not at significant risk of overheating, two leading international financial institutions have claimed, although the need for a cautious policy stance remains.
Asia growing but facing inflation risk, says IMF

28 Apr 2011

The short-term prospects for economic growth in Asia are favourable although the region remains at risk of inflation, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) argues.
Sacha Sadan to join LGIM

28 Apr 2011

Former Gartmore manager Sacha Sadan will join Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) at the start of the summer.
Allianz plans new absolute return fund for Thomas

28 Apr 2011

Allianz Global Investors has announced plans to launch a new absolute return product to be managed by RCM’s Jeremy Thomas.
Rensburg’s Spencer confident on UK Mid Cap Growth changes

28 Apr 2011

Rensburg’s Paul Spencer remains confident that last year’s “big switch” in his UK Mid Cap Growth trust was a good move, but admits it may take more time for the strategy to bear fruit.
Financial reform should follow Mena unrest, says IMF

27 Apr 2011

Developing a “vibrant and dynamic” financial sector is essential if countries in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region are to achieve higher rates of economic growth, a major intergovernmental organisation claims.
F&C adds to global thematic equities team

27 Apr 2011

Andy Penman has joined F&C Asset Management from Barclays Wealth to cover two key sectors as an analyst.
Artemis energy fund powered by £70m at launch

27 Apr 2011

Artemis has announced its Global Energy fund raised £70m from its pre-launch offer to investors.
Bank to wait for rate rise, claims Merrill Lynch’s O'Neill

26 Apr 2011

The Bank of England is unlikely to raise the country’s base interest rate until August, Merrill Lynch’s Bill O’Neill claims.
US house prices approach 2009 lows, says study

26 Apr 2011

American house prices fell further in the year to February 28 and are approaching the lows seen in April 2009, according to the Case-Shiller
Food inflation placing Asian recovery at risk, says ADB

26 Apr 2011

Rocketing food prices present a serious threat to the economic recovery of emerging Asia, a new report from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) argues.
Recovering manufacturers still worried by inflation

26 Apr 2011

The British manufacturing sector looks set for continued recovery, although inflationary pressure shows no sign of abating, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
M&G announces manager reshuffle

26 Apr 2011

M&G has announced several manager moves to a number of its retail funds, including the appointment of a new co-manager on its European Strategic Value fund.
Neptune’s Burnett back to underweight in banks

26 Apr 2011

Rob Burnett increased the Neptune European Opportunities fund’s exposure to financials by more than 27 percentage points at the start of the year but has since resumed a cautious stance on the banking sector.
OECD calls for reform to avert crisis

Fund Strategy - 25 April 2011

Japan’s fiscal affairs are at a critical point that will only worsen if the country does not undertake a “large and sustained effort” to reform, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) warned last week.
Unemployment claims fall in America

21 Apr 2011

The number of claims for unemployment benefits in America fell by 13,000 last week, although this is below the decrease predicted by some forecasters.
Fund managers too confident on profits, says Temple Bar trust

21 Apr 2011

The board of the £597.4m Temple Bar Investment Trust has rounded on fund managers for their over-confidence in the future profitability of British companies.
Public sector net borrowing falls in March

21 Apr 2011

The government’s net borrowing decreased in March when compared with the level seen one year before, according to new official figures.
Japanese fiscal crisis will get worse, says OECD

21 Apr 2011

Japan’s fiscal situation has come to a “critical point” and will get worse in the years to come, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) warns.
OECD revises down Japanese growth

21 Apr 2011

Japan’s economy will expand by just 0.8% this year as the country struggles to cope with the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Fidelity downplays Special Values underperformance

20 Apr 2011

Fidelity has downplayed the short-term underperformance of its £356.2m Special Values trust, stressing that it is aiming to achieve good levels of performance in the long run.
European Commission approves 2012 draft budget

20 Apr 2011

The European Union (EU) draft budget for 2012 calls for a spending increase, despite many of the bloc’s members implementing austerity measures at home.
Inrev shakes up management board

20 Apr 2011

The European Association for Investors in Non-listed Real Estate Vehicles (Inrev) has appointed three new members to its management board.
Taxpayers need compensating for bank rescue, says committee

20 Apr 2011

The government needs to ensure banks “adequately” repay taxpayers for the support extended during the financial crisis, according to a parliamentary group.
Japanese exports fall after earthquake

20 Apr 2011

Exports from Japan fell by 2.2% in March after the country was struck by the magnitude-9 earthquake and tsunami, the latest Ministry of Finance figures reveal.
Pimco’s Gomez highlights emerging market debt opportunities

19 Apr 2011

Asian currencies, Brazil’s local markets and borrowings in the Russian oil and gas sector present particularly attractive opportunities to emerging market debt investors, according to Michael Gomez, an executive vice president at Pimco.
Buffers and bonus caps will not tame markets, study warns

19 Apr 2011

Increasing capital buffers and applying tighter controls on bonuses will do little to avert a future financial crisis, according to new research from Nottingham University Business School.
Swiss & Global assets nudge up in Q1

19 Apr 2011

Swiss & Global Asset Management increased the amount of money it runs by 2.5% in the first quarter of the year, GAM Holding’s interim management statement shows.
British financial services losing appeal to investors, says CBI

19 Apr 2011

The government has to do more to encourage inward investment into the country’s financial services industry, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
Polar Capital assets pass $3.8 billion

19 Apr 2011

The amount of money run by Polar Capital has increased by more than half over the past 12 months, according to its assets under management (AUM) update.
Tackle debt to avoid repeat of crisis, richer nations told

19 Apr 2011

Tackling the problems that caused the financial crisis will require the world’s advanced economies to move away from persistent indebtedness, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned last week, although this has to be achieved without damaging the nascent recovery.
Lazard to launch global equity fund for new managers

18 Apr 2011

Tycho van Wijk and Tjeert Keijzer will join Lazard Asset Management to launch an unconstrained global equity strategy, it has been confirmed.
Banks acquitted in Parmalat fraud case

18 Apr 2011

Four international banks have been cleared of market-rigging in a trial related to the collapse of Italian food giant Parmalat.
Ignis confirms changes to International Greater China fund

18 Apr 2011

The £40m Ignis International Greater China fund has been renamed and the wording of its investment policy changed to reflect its lack of exposure to Taiwan.
City to launch fund versions of risk-rated portfolios

18 Apr 2011

City Asset Management (CAM) is to enter the fund market with unitised versions of its bespoke cautious and balanced portfolios.
Cazenove UK Dynamic to merge with UK Opportunities fund

18 Apr 2011

The £66.6m Cazenove UK Dynamic fund will be merged into the £74.7m Cazenove UK Opportunities fund, it has been announced.
Jupiter inflows hit £333m in first quarter

18 Apr 2011

Jupiter Fund Management benefited from net inflows of £333m in the opening quarter of 2011, the group’s interim management statement shows.
Economic recovery relies on business spending, says leading thinktank

18 Apr 2011

British businesses need to open their coffers and resume spending to spur recovery, according to a leading economic forecasting group.
Irish banks downgraded by Moody’s

18 Apr 2011

Moody’s has downgraded several Irish banks after recently taking down the ratings of the country’s government’s bonds.
Synthetic products may be ‘source of contagion’

Fund Strategy - 18 April 2011

An international body of financial regulators has launched consultations into the potential risks created by exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and the shadow banking system.
Tackle debt to avoid repeat of crisis, richer nations told

Fund Strategy - 18 April 2011

Tackling the problems that caused the financial crisis will require the world’s advanced economies to move away from persistent indebtedness, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned last week, although this has to be achieved without damaging the nascent recovery.
Greece announces €76 billion spending cuts and asset sales

15 Apr 2011

The Greek government has unveiled a €76 billion (£67 billion) programme of spending cuts and sales of state assets as it tries to avoid restructuring its debt.
American inflation at 15-month high in March

15 Apr 2011

America’s annual consumer prices index (CPI) inflation rocketed to 2.7% during March, according to the latest official figures, the highest since the end of 2009.
Eurozone inflation hits 2.7% in March

15 Apr 2011

The rate of annual inflation in the eurozone reached 2.7% in March, well above the European Central Bank’s target of below 2%.
Japanese economy to recover after July, says Bank of Japan

15 Apr 2011

Japan’s economy will grow from July onwards as the country starts to recover from its recent earthquake, tsunami and nuclear emergency, according to the Bank of Japan.
Bank of Ireland’s losses fall 66%

14 Apr 2011

The losses incurred by Bank of Ireland fell by two-thirds in 2010, the group’s annual results show, despite it facing a “very challenging year”.
Chinese property sector gets negative outlook from Moody’s

14 Apr 2011

Moody’s has cut its outlook for Chinese property from stable to negative owing to the tough operating conditions in the sector.
Leaders not tackling causes of crisis, IMF warns

13 Apr 2011

The world’s governments have to shift their focus from alleviating the symptoms of the financial crisis to tackling the underlying problems that caused it, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) claims.
American trade deficit narrows by $1.2 billion

12 Apr 2011

The American trade deficit narrowed to $45.8 billion (£40.1 billion) in February from a seven month high as both imports and exports dropped.
F&C soft-closes Global Convertible Bond fund

12 Apr 2011

F&C has soft-closed its Global Convertible Bond fund following significant inflows.
British trade deficit drops in February, says ONS

12 Apr 2011

Britain’s trade deficit narrowed to £2.4 billion in February from £3.9 billion in January, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Unemployment drops for fourth month, OECD reveals

12 Apr 2011

Unemployment in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) region has fallen for a fourth consecutive month, the latest figures show.
MAM posts profit and hires Bridge and Harper

12 Apr 2011

Neil Bridge, the former head of British retail sales at Schroders, will become MAM Funds’ new head of business development on May 4 after the firm posted a profit in 2010.
IMF cuts British economic growth forecast

11 Apr 2011

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has become the latest organisation to revise down its economic growth forecast for Britain.
Portugal may need more than €80 billion, warns LSR

11 Apr 2011

Portugal could find itself in continued financial strife even if its bailout package totals €80 billion (£71 billion) as expected, Lombard Street Research (LSR) claims.
UK economy to grow just 1%, says CEBR

11 Apr 2011

Britain’s economy will grow by only 1% this year, according to the latest forecast by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR).
China posts first trade deficit in seven years

11 Apr 2011

China has posted its first quarterly trade deficit in almost seven years, new figures from the country’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) show.
Record sales for Global sector in Q1, says Cofunds

11 Apr 2011

Net sales in the Investment Management Association (IMA) Global sector reached an all-time high in the first quarter of the year on supermarket Cofunds.
Global commodity prices are main driver of eurozone inflation, report claims

7 Apr 2011

Higher prices of global commodities such as oil, metals and unprocessed food were the driving factors behind the eurozone’s inflation over the past quarter, according to a new report by the European Commission (EC).
Emerging market growth slows in first quarter

7 Apr 2011

Services and manufacturing growth in emerging markets slowed slightly in the opening three months of the year, according to the latest figures.
Moody's warns of British bank downgrade

7 Apr 2011

British banks could suffer downgrades or reviews to their credit ratings because authorities are no longer as willing to bail them out, ratings agency Moody’s says.
China rate rise is now cosmetic, claims Jupiter’s Ehrmann

7 Apr 2011

China could be approaching the end of its monetary tightening programme following its recent interest rate rise, Jupiter’s Philip Ehrmann argues.
Bank of Japan highlights downward economic pressure

7 Apr 2011

Japan’s economy faces “strong downward pressure” following the earthquake and tsunami that hit on March 11, the country’s central bank asserts.
Portugal seeks EU bailout

7 Apr 2011

Portugal has become the third country to ask for bailout funding from the European Union (EU), following Greece and Ireland.
Manufacturing output improves in February

6 Apr 2011

Britain’s total manufacturing output rose by 4.9% in February when compared to last year, the latest official figures show.
Asian growth to be strong despite inflation, says bank

6 Apr 2011

Developing Asia will show healthy growth rates in the coming two years although inflation could be a threat to recovery, according to the Asian Development Bank.
Lazard's Ryan shooting for Travolta stocks

6 Apr 2011

Learning from the career of Hollywood actor John Travolta can help when building a strong high-yield portfolio, according Lazard’s Pat Ryan.
Rowland steps down from Fidelity Japan fund

6 Apr 2011

Robert Rowland, the manager of the £116m Fidelity Japan fund, is to step down from his duties as a portfolio manager from May 1.
Skandia enhances Bond Income fund

6 Apr 2011

Skandia Investment Group has confirmed a number of changes to the Skandia Bond Income fund.
Base rate rise could derail recovery, says IoD

6 Apr 2011

Prematurely raising the base interest rate could push Britain into double-dip recession, the Institute of Directors (IoD) warns.
No bridging loan for Portugal, says EU representative

6 Apr 2011

Portugal will not be granted a bridging loan by other European nations unless it first agrees to the strict conditions of an international debt bailout, according to reports.
Eurozone services activity grows in March

5 Apr 2011

Growth in the eurozone’s service sector has reached a three-and-a-half year high, according the latest research by Markit.
Australia holds interest rates for fourth time

5 Apr 2011

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has held interest rates at 4.75% for a fourth time, offering the strength of the Australian dollar as the motivation for the decision.
ING UK Real Estate Income announces name change

5 Apr 2011

A number of changes will be made to the running of the £207m ING UK Real Estate Income trust, including a name change, it has been confirmed.
Portugal's government bond ratings downgraded by Moody's

5 Apr 2011

Moody’s has downgraded Portugal’s long-term government bond ratings by another notch from A3 to Baa1.
British business confidence falling, BCC finds

5 Apr 2011

New research by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has highlighted the fragility of the country’s economic recovery.
Moves to boost enterprise-led recovery may not convince

5 Apr 2011

The British government has increased its promotion of an enterprise-led economic recovery, with venture capital trusts (VCTs) and enterprise investment schemes (EISs) playing a larger role.
Tohoku insurance impact will be less than Katrina’s, claims Towers Watson

4 Apr 2011

The Tohoku earthquake and tsunami are unlikely to cause lasting damage to the capital of Japan’s insurance industry or the international reinsurance market, according to Towers Watson.
Swip hires global equities head from BlackRock

4 Apr 2011

Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (Swip) has hired William Low from BlackRock as its head of global equities.
Bank should hold base rate, claims shadow MPC

4 Apr 2011

The Bank of England should hold the base rate at its historic low of 0.5% at its next meeting on April 7, a survey from the Institute for Economic Affairs (IEA) concludes.
Interest rate rise could be ‘suicidal’, warns M&G manager

4 Apr 2011

Raising the base interest rate to address inflation could be disastrous for Britain’s economic growth if carried out too soon, according to M&G Investment’s Ben Lord.
Investment managers showing buoyed confidence, survey finds

4 Apr 2011

Fund managers were “far more upbeat” than other members of the British financial services industry during the first three months of the year, according to new research.
Moves to boost enterprise-led recovery may not convince

Fund Strategy - 4 April 2011

The British government has increased its promotion of an enterprise-led economic recovery, with venture capital trusts (VCTs) and enterprise investment schemes (EISs) playing a role.
Test shows Irish banks face €24 billion funding gap

Fund Strategy - 4 April 2011

The Irish banking stress test has concluded that the country’s four main banks have a €24 billion (£21 billion) funding gap, capping off a week of bad news for the eurozone.
American unemployment at two-year low

1 Apr 2011

American unemployment has fallen to a two-year low, dropping to 8.8% in March, the Department of Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals.
European unemployment falls in February

1 Apr 2011

Unemployment fell slightly in the eurozone during February, new figures from Eurostat show.
British manufacturing growth starts to slow

1 Apr 2011

Growth in the British manufacturing sector has slowed from January’s peak but remains strong, according to Markit and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS).
UK government debt and deficit still at ‘excessive’ levels

1 Apr 2011

British government debt remains at ‘excessive’ levels under the Maastricht Treaty, the latest official figures show.
Eastern manufacturing improves despite inflation fears

1 Apr 2011

Conditions in the manufacturing sectors of China, India, Taiwan and South Korea continued to improve in March, although inflation remains a worry.
Eurozone manufacturing posts strong March performance

1 Apr 2011

Manufacturing activity in the eurozone remained strong during March, but slipped slightly from the 10.5 year peak seen in the previous month.
Ireland confirms €24 billion bank funding hole

31 Mar 2011

Ireland’s four main banks have a €24 billion (£21 billion) gap between their current and ideal capital positions, the Financial Measures Programme Report has concluded.
Japanese manufacturing dips sharply after earthquake

31 Mar 2011

The Japanese manufacturing sector suffered its largest fall in production on record after this month’s earthquake.
Aviva hires multi-managers to run ranges in-house

31 Mar 2011

Aviva Investors has hired Ian Aylward and Peter Fitzgerald to run its multi-manager investments in house.
Eurozone economic sentiment falls in March

30 Mar 2011

Economic sentiment in the European Union (EU) remained constant during March but fell slightly in the eurozone, according to official research.
GDP revisions could delay rate rise, says LSR

30 Mar 2011

The Bank of England may be less likely to raise interest rates in May because of revisions to last year’s GDP figures, according to Lombard Street Research (LSR).
Lloyd's profits fall 43% in 2010

30 Mar 2011

Lloyd’s of London saw its profits fall by more than two-fifths last year, the insurance market’s annual results show.
UK current account deficit rises to £10.5 billion

29 Mar 2011

The deficit on Britain’s current account increased by 20.6% in the final three months of 2010, the latest official figures show.
S&P downgrades Portugal and Greece

29 Mar 2011

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has lowered the rating on Portugal’s sovereign credit for a second time in the space of a week and has also downgraded Greece.
Portugal could face second downgrade, warns S&P

28 Mar 2011

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has lowered its ratings on Portugal’s five biggest banks and warned it could cut the rating of the country’s sovereign debt again.
Henderson Strategic Bond fund passes £1 billion mark

28 Mar 2011

John Pattullo and Jenna Barnard’s Henderson Strategic Bond fund now manages more than £1 billion in assets, Henderson has announced.
“Greece is bust,” says Lombard Street’s Stein

28 Mar 2011

Almost two-thirds of economists surveyed by the BBC expect Greece to default on its sovereign debt, with one suggesting the country is essentially “bust”.
Bail-out fears force agencies to act

Fund Strategy - 28 March 2011

Ratings agencies downgraded Portugal last week after the country’s parliament failed to agree to further spending cuts, forcing its prime minister to resign.
Osborne ends fears on taxing of non-British funds

Fund Strategy - 28 March 2011

George Osborne has ended speculation that non-British Ucits IV funds could fall under Britain’s tax regime.
Thames River to launch high yield bond fund

25 Mar 2011

Thames River has unveiled a new Ucits III absolute return fund that will focus on global high yield bonds.
Ashmore Global Opportunities chairman defends share discount

25 Mar 2011

The Ashmore Global Opportunities investment trust has downplayed the discount on its shares after the publication of its annual report.
British companies dropped for government debt, ONS data suggests

25 Mar 2011

Investors fled from British companies and poured money into the country’s government debt last year, according to official figures.
S&P downgrades Portugal

25 Mar 2011

Standard & Poor’s has lowered Portugal’s long-term sovereign credit rating from A- to BBB but maintained its short-term credit ratings at A-2.
Eurozone agrees new bailout fund details

25 Mar 2011

Eurozone officials have agreed on the new structure of the financial bailout fund to protect the area from its worsening debt crisis.
Fitch downgrades Portugal after PM resigns

24 Mar 2011

FItch has cut Portugal’s foreign and local currency issuer default ratings (IDR) after the nation’s prime minister stood down.
Will higher Chinese wages hit Western pockets?

24 Mar 2011

Rising wages in China make it “inevitable” that the West’s access to cheap goods will end, a leading consumer goods sourcing and logistics company suggests.
Irish economy continues to contract

24 Mar 2011

The Irish economy contracted in the final quarter of 2010, with growth seen in just one sector over the whole year, the latest government figures show.
Inflation to exceed target for another year, says MPC’s Dale

24 Mar 2011

Inflation is likely to remain above the 2% target for one more year, according to a member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
Portugal could default, says LSR’s Stein

24 Mar 2011

Portugal may choose to bypass an international bailout and move directly to default, Gabriel Stein, a research director at Lombard Street Research (LSR), argues.
Sócrates resignation sparks Portugal bailout speculation

24 Mar 2011

José Sócrates has resigned as the prime minister of Portugal, increasing the likelihood that the country will apply for an international rescue package despite a delay in expanding the European Union’s (EU’s) bailout funds.
Budget 2011: Osborne ends Ucits IV tax concerns

24 Mar 2011

Overseas funds run by a British manager will not regarded as operating onshore for tax purposes, chancellor George Osborne confirmed in the budget.
Stable outlook for money market funds, says Moody’s

24 Mar 2011

Money market funds have a stable outlook in 2011, according to the latest review by Moody’s Investors Service.
Japanese exports grew in month prior to earthquake

24 Mar 2011

Japan’s exports rose by 9% year-on-year in the month before the recent earthquake, the latest government figures show.
Budget 2011: OBR explains growth revisions

23 Mar 2011

Higher-than-expected inflation and slowing economic momentum are the factors most likely to hold back Britain’s growth, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).
Budget 2011: Growth predictions too ambitious, claims BCC

23 Mar 2011

The Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) new forecast for Britain’s economic growth is too optimistic, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).
Budget 2011: Public borrowing to fall to £29 billion, Osborne says

23 Mar 2011

Public sector borrowing will fall to £29 billion by 2015-16, chancellor George Osborne has pledged.
Ignis International Emerging Markets fund renamed

23 Mar 2011

The £71.1m Ignis International Emerging Markets fund has undergone changes to its name and investment policy.
Budget 2011: Osborne cuts corporation tax

23 Mar 2011

Corporation tax is to fall by more than previously announced, chancellor George Osborne has said in the Budget.
Bank voted six to three against rate rise

23 Mar 2011

Three members of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to increase the base interest rate in March compared with six against, the minutes for the meeting show.
Japanese insurers downgraded

23 Mar 2011

Moody’s Japan KK has revised down its outlook for the subsidiaries of Japan’s three largest domestic property and casualty insurance groups.
Base rate should rise sooner rather than later, asserts Sentance

22 Mar 2011

The expectation of rising inflation makes it more important than ever for the Bank of England to increase interest rates, according to an outgoing member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
US Treasury to sell some crisis-hit securities

22 Mar 2011

The US Treasury is to start the “gradual and orderly” wind down of a $142 billion (£88.7 billion) of mortgage-backed securities it bought during the financial crisis.
Worst commodity costs since summer 2008 expected, says CBI

22 Mar 2011

Raw material prices anticipated by manufacturers are the highest since summer 2008, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), although firms say the recovery remains on track.
Henderson shareholders approve Gartmore purchase

22 Mar 2011

The shareholders of Henderson Group have voted in approval of the company’s takeover of Gartmore.
Public sector borrowing rises to £11.8 billion

22 Mar 2011

Britain’s public sector borrowing hit £11.8 billion in February, the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show.
ABN AMRO plays up global economic momentum

22 Mar 2011

The Tohoku earthquake and the increase in oil prices caused by unrest in the Middle East are unlikely to significantly hamper economic recovery, according to a new report.
Earthquake and conflict will not hit recovery, ABN Amro says

22 Mar 2011

The Tohoku earthquake and the increase in oil prices caused by unrest in the Middle East are unlikely to significantly hamper economic recovery, according to a new report from ABN Amro.
China to dominate world trade by 2030, says PwC

22 Mar 2011

China is on course to overtake America in global trade by 2030, the latest report from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) argues.
Invista Foundation Property Trust sacks IREIM

22 Mar 2011

The £177.4m Invista Foundation Property Trust has given notice to Invista Real Estate Investment Management (IREIM) about the termination of its investment management agreement.
Japan crisis to hit Africa, says Standard Bank

22 Mar 2011

The ongoing crisis in earthquake-struck Japan will have an “inevitable” near-term effect on Africa’s economy, a new paper claims.
Witan Pacific offers reassurance over Japan exposure

22 Mar 2011

Gillian Nott, the chairman of the £167m Witan Pacific investment trust, has revealed the fund’s exposure to Japan following the earthquake in the country last week.
Shareholders vote for Henderson acquisition of Gartmore

21 Mar 2011

Gartmore shareholders have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the firm’s acquisition by Henderson.
Bank of England flags recovery speed bumps

21 Mar 2011

The Bank of England has identified a number of domestic and international threats that could affect the pace of Britain’s economic recovery.
More FTSE 250 firms looking at dual listing, PwC finds

21 Mar 2011

FTSE 250 executives are increasingly interested in dual listing to tap into new sources of capital, the latest PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) research claims.
Close Brothers to sell Cayman Islands business

21 Mar 2011

Close Brothers has announced the sale of its Cayman Islands trust, fiduciary services, fund administration and banking business to Intertrust Group Holding.
Japan slowdown will be short lived, says World Bank

21 Mar 2011

The slowdown in Japan’s economic growth expected as a result of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami is likely to be temporary, according to the World Bank.
Austerity package wins OECD praise

Fund Strategy - 21 March 2011

The government’s austerity plan last week received the full backing of the Organisation for Economic Development and Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Banks face tougher European stress test in 2011

Fund Strategy - 21 March 2011

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has made the 2011 stress test of the European Union (EU) banking system tougher than last year’s exercise.
Uncertainty over how China will achieve five-year plan

Fund Strategy - 21 March 2011

China last week unveiled plans to slow its rapid growth rate, but concerns remain over how Beijing will achieve this goal.
Moody’s highlights sectors to suffer in oil price rise

18 Mar 2011

Persistent high oil prices could damage the auto, airline, gaming and agricultural sectors the most severely, according to Moody’s Investors Service.
Eurozone trade deficit exceeds €14 billion

18 Mar 2011

The eurozone’s foreign trade deficit grew to €14.8 billion (£12.8 billion) in January, the latest figures from the European Union’s (EU) statistical office reveal.
EBA unveils ‘tougher’ stress test details

18 Mar 2011

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has explained the methodology and scenarios that will be used in its 2011 bank stress test.
G7 to protect yen with market intervention

18 Mar 2011

Finance ministers and central bank governors from the G7 countries have agreed to intervene in currency markets to reduce the yen’s volatility.
Jupiter-run assets up more than 24%

18 Mar 2011

The money run by Jupiter Fund Management increased 24% in 2010, the company’s annual results show.
Distinction adds to won and renminbi positions after yen rise

17 Mar 2011

Distinction Asset Management has responded to the ongoing crisis in Japan by adding positions in the Korean won and non-deliverable forwards on the Chinese renminbi.
Japan emergency may slow global GDP, says Lombard Odier

17 Mar 2011

The ongoing crisis in Japan could have a wide-reaching effect on global economic growth, analysis from Lombard Odier suggests.
LM announces Australian property Sicav

17 Mar 2011

LM Investment Management has launched a Luxembourg-domiciled Sicav that targets the Australian property market.
Russian banks to undertake more M&A deals, says Moody’s

17 Mar 2011

The Russian banking system is likely to be strengthened by increased merger & acquisition (M&A) deals over 2011, according to new research from Moody’s.
Japan: Nikkei 225 falls while yen rises

17 Mar 2011

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index closed 1.44% down on Thursday as Japan struggles to cope with the aftermath of last week’s earthquake and tsunami.
S&P’s Mashiter warns on emerging market debt

16 Mar 2011

The question of how much value remains in emerging market debt could become a concern for investors in the global debt markets, says James Mashiter, an associate director at Standard & Poor’s.
Supportive monetary policy vital to British recovery, OECD says

16 Mar 2011

The “significant headwinds” affecting Britain’s economic recovery could be alleviated if monetary policy remains supportive, a new report on Britain by the OECD has claimed.
Eurozone inflation remains above target

16 Mar 2011

Annual inflation in the eurozone stood at 2.4% in February, rising from 2.3% in the previous month, figures from Eurostat show.
Energy market future depends on Japan nuclear outcome, says Stewart

16 Mar 2011

The crisis at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant will have short-term implications for the energy market but long-lasting change is less predictable, according to one Martin Currie manager.
Geiger Counter managers play down nuclear fears

15 Mar 2011

New City Investment Managers, which runs the Geiger Counter investment trust, remains confident that nuclear stocks will not suffer over the long-term because of the problems with Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility.

FundwebGary Jackson Editorial, Fundweb.co.uk

Fundweb
Gary Jackson Editorial, Fundweb.co.uk